It’s 2027 and you’ve lost a tooth in a hockey game. Today the replacement process can be extremely expensive and some patients report not being entirely satisfied with the shape, size, color, or fit of an artificial tooth. But five years from now the most probable way such a scenario will play out will be a visit to the dentist for a scan of some kind before a 3D printer creates a perfect fit made of incredibly resilient composite materials, and at a price that’s a fraction of what it costs today. These predictions for the future of dentistry are based on what analysts see happening due to developments in additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing (AM) or additive layer manufacturing (ALM) are simply [industry names for 3D printing](https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-additive-manufacturing), the computer process that controls the depositing of material – usually in layers – into three-dimensional objects. AM and ALM tech has grown at warp speed, and prices for the machinery have come down dramatically – and this in combo equals a whole new world.