"Digital Dentistry" is here!

The dental field has always been a strong branch of the healthcare system. It has also been a dreadful issue in terms of cost for many people. From a simple clean to dental surgery, the main cost arises from the equipment  needed and the replacement parts for the teeth.

While 3D printing has been revolutionising the medical field for the past few years, it has set foot in the dentistry. It marks the start of "Digital Dentistry". This has been a prototype for some time but in recent times it shows promising results to replace the costly alternatives.

The developments began with models being created for educational or simple reference purposes. At a time nearly 30 models were able to produced in a time frame, which had 3-4 models being manufactured by existing factories. So far only mouth guards have been a product that can be used in the mouth. But a full set of parts for braces and other dentures are not far from being 3D printed.

Cheaper production means, cheaper prices. This changes the amount of dentures that can be accessed by third world country citizens, since the affordability is a huge factor for them and also with many people from developed countries.

The research conducted by Apex promises this change to take place soon. Here's a video to provide an overview of "Digital Dentistry".

Source: http://youtu.be/hl3GvW-cfGM

Little Emma's "magic arms"

Recently we posted about how 3D printing enabled the medical field to form something like an 'organ shop'.

Now, 3D printing has made a remarkable change in a little girl's life.

This is Emma playing like any other ordinary child would at her age, without the worry of being a sufferer of a serious and rare neuromuscular condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. It causes her joints and muscles to be weak, making her unable to move her arms, since the bicep muscles do not expand or contract.

Source: http://asset0.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/08/06/emmadrawing.png

So simply put, a set of appendages were 3D 'printed' and were attached to an exoskeleton structure called the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX). It is said to be attached to a wheel chair in normal applications. But Emma was too young and so it was designed to be lighter and easier for her to move around while keeping it attached. WREX is held by a number of resistance bands attached around Emma's arms. It is said to give a sense of 'floatation', which allows voluntary movements instead of an artificially created movement. Although WREX has been around for a number of years, Emma was the first patient to have 3D printed parts.

An excerpt from Tariq Rahman (Mechanical engineer and head of pediatric engineering and research at Nemours):

"Without the 3D printer, we would not be in a position we're in with these younger kids, making them a WREX device that can go with them..."

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WoZ2BgPVtA0

That concludes the post and click on the link below for the main article, if you want to read the full story.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57487822-1/3d-printed-magic-arms-give-little-girl-new-reach/