Three-dimensional printing system and methods of use

A method of three dimensionally printing a dental article comprising:

• providing a first layer of uncured resin material comprising an uncured resin, a photoinitiator, and in the range of about 50% to 90% by weight inert filler particles;
• depositing, via a print head, a first discrete layer of a composition comprising upconversion phosphors to a predetermined surface region of the first layer of uncured resin material;
• providing a second layer of the uncured resin material overlying the first layer of uncured resin material and the deposited layer that comprises the upconversion phosphors;
• depositing, via a print head, a second discrete layer of the composition comprising upconversion phosphors to a predetermined surface region of the second layer of uncured resin material;
• providing a third layer of the uncured resin material overlying the second layer of uncured resin material and the second deposited layer that comprises the upconversion phosphors;
• irradiating the layers of uncured resin material and deposited layers comprising upconversion phosphors with a wavelength that causes the upconversion phosphors to luminesce at a wavelength corresponding to an activation wavelength of the photoinitiator in the uncured resin material and thereby curing the resin material in a region adjacent the upconversion phosphors to form a cured resin mass;
• and
• separating remaining uncured resin material from the cured resin mass,
• wherein the layers of the composition comprising upconversion phosphors are deposited to the predetermined surface regions of the uncured resin material in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined form of the dental article.