83 Year Old Undergoes Jawbone Transplant
An 83 year old woman has become the first person to undergo a transplant procedure using an artificial jawbone created by a 3D printer.
Doctors and engineers used the latest laser manufacturing techniques to develop a custom-made metal jawbone, made from layers of titanium. The artificial jawbone was fitted into the woman’s lower jaw to replace a large segment, which was severely infected.
3D printing has been used to create prototypes for a few years now, but scientists have recently started experimenting with the idea of using the technology in medical procedures. In the case of the jawbone transplant, a company called Layerwise used 3D scans of the lady’s jaw to create a custom-made artificial jaw.
The woman had suffered from a chronic condition known as osteomyelitis. She was offered the procedure because antibiotics had not been effective and reconstructive surgery would have been risky considering the patient’s age.
The procedure represents a huge advance in dental technology and could pave the way for similar procedures in the future.
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