Fidentis debuts clinically used multi-material LPBF dental implant

Fidentis, a technology company based in Bavaria, born out of Fraunhofer research, has become the first company to see a multi-material laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) part deployed in a real-world clinical setting. The milestone marks a turning point for metal additive manufacturing, demonstrating the viability of combining different alloys within a single printed component for dental applications.

The initial case involved a prosthetic restoration manufactured by TriDent Zahntechnik GmbH in collaboration with dentist Dr. August Trimpl. The final restoration was created using a semi-finished component produced by Fidentis, which combined cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) for structural integrity and gold for its frictional properties.

According to Fidentis, the project evolved from a conceptual exploration of alloy integration into a functional, biocompatible solution now applied in patient care. The component was fabricated using LPBF technology capable of processing multiple metal materials within a single build, an advancement that opens new avenues for dental and medical part customization.

Fidentis develops additive manufacturing solutions focused on complex, patient-specific applications in the dental and biomedical sectors. The company reports that this is the first clinically applied, multi-material LPBF component manufactured by a commercial partner and integrated into a patient case.

The company did not disclose specific technical parameters of the build or the LPBF system used.