An 83-year-old woman has successfully had her lower jaw replaced with a 3D-printed model by scientists at Belgium’s University of Hasselt. This is the first such implant in the world, and was a much faster process than traditional artificial implants – we’re taking hours instead of days.
The lower jaw was laser-printed from titanium powder, which means that the 83-year-old woman in question now has a titanium jaw. This is cool in and of itself. The titanium’s a little heavier than a natural jaw – but researchers say a patient can easily get used to it.
Although the operation was announced this week, it was actually performed back in June of last year. Researchers say it was a success, and the elderly patient was able to start talking and swallowing just one day after the surgery.
[Source: Slashdot]
