83-Year-Old Woman Gets New 3D-Printed Titanium Jaw

arnodf writes "The University of Hasselt (in Belgium) announced today (Google translation of Dutch original) that Belgian and Dutch scientists have successfully replaced an 83-year-old woman's lower jaw with a 3D-printed model. According to the researchers, 'It is the first custom-made implant in the world to replace an entire lower jaw. ... The 3D printer prints titanium powder layer by layer, while a computer controlled laser ensures that the correct particles are fused together. Using 3D printing technology, less materials are needed and the production time is much shorter than traditional manufacturing. The artificial jaw is slightly heavier than a natural jaw, but the patient can easily get used to it."

Don't Draw that Jaw

[Anonymous Coward]

You wouldn't download a jaw...

Sweet!

[tsotha]

She can get a job as a heavy at Drax Industries.

Experience

[TWX]

The artificial jaw is slightly heavier than a natural jaw, but the patient can easily get used to it.

Sounds like the whole thing is a jaw-dropping experience!

Re:Why not stainless steel?

[soundscape]

Why not? That funny "stainless steel" taste, of course.

Bond, James Bond

[milbournosphere]

Richard Keil called, he wants his teeth back.

Missed oppertunity

[SeaFox]

She should have had new titanium dentures built into it as well. She could have starred in the next James Bond movie.

Re:Why not stainless steel?

[somersault]

Uh.. why not titanium? Does she really need her jaw to be stronger than a Mig jet fighter? Does she really want her jaw to be twice as heavy as a normal jaw so that she walks around like this :0 all the time?