Nagaland has produced its first 3D-printed monolithic complete dentures, marking a significant step towards adopting advanced digital dentistry in the State. The dentures were fabricated during a specialised workshop held at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), where around 30 dental professionals received hands-on training in the latest denture fabrication techniques.
The workshop demonstrated the complete digital workflow for producing monolithic complete dentures using a PolyJet 3D printer. The procedures were carried out by Thungbeni P. Ngullie, Senior Resident at the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, who also delivered the first five 3D-printed monolithic complete dentures to patients in Nagaland.
Ngullie explained that a monolithic complete denture is manufactured as a single unit instead of being assembled from separate components. The process combines conventional clinical methods such as impression-taking, border moulding and recording jaw relations with digital technologies, including scanning, computer-aided design and PolyJet 3D printing. While essential clinical procedures remain unchanged to maintain accuracy, the remaining stages have been digitised to improve efficiency.
She said the PolyJet printer can produce up to 32 complete dentures in nearly 14 hours. During the workshop, five dentures were successfully printed within about five to six hours, demonstrating the technology’s ability to significantly reduce production time.
According to Ngullie, the new digital process reduces the traditional denture fabrication procedure from nearly 15 manual steps to only six or seven. This helps minimise the chances of human error, reduces the number of patient visits and enables quicker delivery of dentures. Another advantage is that digital records can be stored, making it easier to reproduce lost or damaged dentures without repeating the entire treatment process.
She further noted that unlike conventional systems, which require the teeth and gum sections to be fabricated separately, the PolyJet process prints the complete denture as a single multi-material unit. This improves durability, appearance and overall efficiency, while offering greater comfort for patients, particularly elderly people who require complete dentures.
Addressing the participants, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner and Secretary Anoop Khinchi said digital technologies are bringing major improvements to healthcare services, including dentistry, by increasing precision, reducing treatment time and enhancing patient comfort.
He said the Nagaland government considers digital dentistry an important step towards making healthcare services more accessible and efficient across the State. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare through emerging technologies, Khinchi called for greater collaboration among hospitals, academic institutions, industry and government agencies to expand the use of digital dentistry and 3D-printing technology to district hospitals, dental colleges and community clinics throughout Nagaland.
