How to Quickly Produce Temporary Crowns and Bridges with a 3D Printer

In 2026, same-day temporary crowns and bridges are no longer a luxury - they are a competitive advantage. By combining an accurate intraoral scanner with a high-speed dental 3D printer and biocompatible provisional resin, clinics can deliver high-quality temporary restorations in just a few hours instead of days.

This guide walks you through the complete, practical workflow using Aident's digital solution (AI-30 Intraoral Scanner + Ai-C60 Dental 3D Printer) so you can start offering same-day temporaries reliably and profitably.

Step-by-Step Workflow for Same-Day Temporary Crowns & Bridges

1. Accurate Digital Impression (5–10 minutes)
Use the Aident AI-30 Intraoral Scanner to capture a precise digital impression of the prepared tooth/teeth and opposing arch.
Key advantages: powder-free true-color scanning, ≤10 μm accuracy, 20–25 mm depth of field, and ultra-light 156–198 g handpiece. Full-arch scans are typically completed in under 60 seconds.

2. CAD Design of the Temporary Restoration (10–20 minutes)
Import the open STL/PLY/OBJ file into your preferred CAD software (exocad, 3Shape, or similar).
Design the temporary crown or bridge with proper occlusion, contacts, and emergence profile. Most designs for single units or short-span bridges can be finished quickly with templates and AI-assisted tools.

3. Prepare the Print File (5–10 minutes)
Export the design and open it in the Ai-C60 slicer software.

Orient the restoration optimally

Generate minimal, easy-to-remove supports

Select the appropriate layer height and exposure settings for provisional resin

Nest multiple units if needed to maximize efficiency

4. 3D Print with the Ai-C60 (25–60 minutes depending on quantity)
Load biocompatible temporary crown & bridge resin into the Aident Ai-C60 Dental 3D Printer.

Key Ai-C60 advantages for chairside use:

±0.03 mm accuracy with 4K resolution

Auto-leveling platform

Intelligent constant-temperature control

Compact and lightweight (only 12 kg) - fits next to the dental chair

Fast COB light source for rapid curing

Single crowns print very quickly; multiple units or short bridges finish in roughly 25–60 minutes.

5. Post-Processing (15–30 minutes)

Remove supports carefully

Clean in isopropyl alcohol or dedicated washer

Post-cure under UV light (the Ai-C60 has built-in curing options that streamline this step)

Lightly polish and adjust contacts/occlusion if needed

Disinfect according to clinic protocol

6. Clinical Try-In and Delivery
Seat the temporary crown or bridge, check fit, occlusion, and esthetics, then cement with temporary cement. The entire process from scan to delivery can be completed in 2–3.5 hours for most cases - true same-day dentistry.

Recommended Materials

Use high-quality provisional / temporary crown & bridge resins that offer:

Natural tooth-like aesthetics

Sufficient strength for short- to medium-term use

Excellent polishability

Full biocompatibility

Aident's matched provisional resins are optimized for the Ai-C60 and deliver consistent clinical results with low remake rates.

Clinical Benefits of In-House Temporary Production

Dramatically shorter treatment time and fewer patient visits

Higher patient satisfaction and treatment acceptance

Significant reduction in lab outsourcing costs

Full control over quality and timing

Potential for +20–35% revenue growth through same-day services (based on clinic feedback)

Complete Digital Ecosystem Recommendation

Pair the Aident AI-30 Intraoral Scanner with the Ai-C60 Dental 3D Printer for a seamless Scan → Design → Print workflow.
Explore the full solution:
Aident Digital Dentistry Solutions
Dental 3D Printers