The group of TANG Zhihui is developing a method to replace extracted teeth by 3D-printed implants. In his approach, the tooth to be extracted is measured prior to surgery by dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and the 3D data are synchronized with a 3D printer providing a copy of the original tooth including the root. After extraction of the original tooth, the printed dental implant is fixed to the alveolar bone by a metal nail through minimally invasive surgery. For the patient, the trauma is small, the repair time is short, and the cost is greatly reduced. TANG Zhihui’s team has completed the preclincial stage stage and observed no serious adverse reactions in animal experiments. The project will enter clinical trials this year, before mass production and application.
China Bio news release, September 13, 2017