These days, you can 3D print just about everything, from clothing to houses, and even — yikes — skin.
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But there's one application sure to bring a smile to your face: 3D-printed dentures for those who can't afford them.
A 22-year-old engineer in Tennessee is helping low-income Americans get their smile back with free 3D-printed dentures, per CNN.
Affordable pearly whites?
Dentures can help restore confidence, improve chewing and speech, and even lower mortality risk. They can also affect job prospects — 28% of US adults say the appearance of their teeth conflicts with their ability to interview.
- 26% of adults 65 or older have eight or fewer teeth; 15% have lost all of their teeth.
- The cost of dentures — ranging from $452 to $6.5k — can be prohibitive for lower-income individuals who often need them the most.
- The labor-intensive process often requires repeat visits and wait time of up to three months.
- Around 27% of the US population doesn't have dental insurance, and Medicare doesn't cover dentures.
Seeing the future of dentures in 3D
In an effort to fill the gap, entrepreneurs are working to make high-quality dentures more affordable, convenient, and faster than traditional ones.
- Denture Care Shop creates 3D-printed dentures that cost $199 to $299.
- Spanish startup FabGRAB uses 3D printing and a special resin to quickly create hyperrealistic dentures at scale.
- Novenda Technologies' 3D printing platform can print multiple materials at once, making the process faster and more affordable.
In Tennessee, engineer Connor Gibson taught himself to 3D print dentures for low-income Americans, and took the show on the road:
- Gibson works with Remote Area Medical (RAM), which provides free dental, vision, and medical care through volunteer mobile clinics throughout the US.
- Using two 3D printers he's outfitted thousands of people with free dentures.
- He developed RAM’s Mobile Digital Denture Lab — the first of its kind — enabling the non-profit to access more patients and outfit them in a weekend instead of months, while reducing costs.
As dentistry continues to face a workforce shortage, 3D printing could help to ensure patients have access to affordable dentures. And considering the restorative dentistry market is expected to grow from $18.7B to $28.5B by 2032, there's plenty of room for growth.
It's certainly something to smile about.
