Woman Needs New Jaw, Gets First 3D Printed Transplant

Let’s just say one day your old, decrepit body needs a piece replaced – a hip, a skullcap, maybe a kneecap or two. Having bits of bone replaced is fairly common, but for the first time ever, an 83 year old woman has a new jaw… a custom 3D printed titanium jaw. The University of Hasselt in Belgium recently made the announcement of the procedure that took place last June.

First 3D Printed Jaw Transplant

The company creating the jaw replacement is Belgium-based additive manufacturer Layerwise. They constructed the jaw using thousands of titanium powdered layers sintered into the custom shape.

Using 3D printing technology, less materials are needed and the production time is much shorter than traditional manufacturing. The mandible was finally given a bioceramic coating compatible with the patient’s tissue by BioCeramics in Leiden. The artificial jaw weighs 107 grams, it is only 30 grams heavier than a natural jaw, but the patient can easily get used to it.

The operation was performed in June last year in the hospital in Sittard-Geleen. One day later the lady could start talking and swallowing.– 3Ders.org

Prof. Dr. Jules Poukens of the University Hasselt said of the breakthrough,

“The implant integrates multiple functions, including dimples increasing the surface area, cavities promoting muscle attachment, and sleeves to lead mandible nerves. Furthermore, the mandible implant is equipped to directly insert dental bar and/or bridge implant suprastructures at a later stage.”