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THE FUTURE OF 3D
PRINTING IN MEDICAL SECTOR
4. Dental 3D Printing
3D printing technology is also helping
the dental industry by avoiding time-consuming
manufacturing and cost. From 3D printed customized
braces to 3D printed dentures and crowns, 3D printing is
allowing to smoothen the process by avoiding the whole
molding process altogether. The dentist can do all the
steps by himself, and it will save time and resources
for both the dentist and patients.
3D printing technology is already making
its way up to the healthcare industry. After the
technological advancement, you will see that nearly all
medical devices are created with 3D printers in the
coming years. Also, advanced 3D printing technologies
like organ printing and bionic prosthetic limbs will
provide a new lease to millions of lives.
5 Benefits of 3D printing in the
medical industry
1. Complex operations
3D printing plays an important role in
training future doctors and preparing for actual
operations. 2D images are useful; however, they provide
little visualization and do not represent an actual
human part. 3D printing, on the other hand, provides
models that look realistic and mimic actual human parts.
This makes the operational process more accurate and
effective.
2. Advanced technology
Future doctors can practice on 3D
printed organs. This is much more accurate than for
example training on animal organs. Training on
human-like, 3D printed parts increases the quality of
skills doctors obtain during training and the medical
treatment of patients.
3. Intricate care
3D printers create low-cost prosthetics
where people need them, for example in war-torn
countries. They are an affordable solution for people
who cannot afford to buy a prosthetic. Low-cost medical
equipment is also important in poverty-stricken
countries and remote areas. There are areas where road
infrastructure is too bad to deliver medical equipment.
3D printing makes it easier to print the necessary
equipment in those villages without having to regularly
transport them.
4. Expensive procedures and long
waiting time
3D printing allows to 3D print medical
and lab equipment. It is possible to 3D print plastic
parts of the equipment. This drastically reduces costs
and time spent waiting to receive a new medical device
from external suppliers. Further more, the manufacturing
process and further applications are also easier. This
makes equipment more readily available and allows
low-income or hard to access areas to get 3D printed
medical equipment more easily.
5. Customization
Making prosthetics the traditional way
is very expensive because they have to be personalized
to the individual. 3D printers give users the freedom to
choose, e.g. different designs, forms, sizes and colors
of their prostheses. This makes every 3D printed piece
personalized. 3D printers also allow prosthetics to be
more widely available at a lower price.
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