Jan 31, 2017 | By Tess
Dubai is certainly making a strong effort to not only integrate 3D printing technologies into many facets of its economy and society, but to do so in a timely manner too. Last October, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced that as soon as 2017, 3D printing would be adopted by hospitals and dental clinics throughout the city, and sure enough, the DHA has now reported that it is ready to launch additive manufacturing at 11 DHA-operated health centers within a matter of weeks.
The announcement was made at the Arab Health Congress 2017, which opened on January 30 and goes on until February 2. According to the DHA, its Dental Services department will be the first to roll out the new technologies, as it begins using 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies to make more time-efficient and less invasive impressions of a patient’s teeth.
That is, rather that make the patient sit uncomfortably while a physical mold is taken of their mouth, Dubai dentists will soon be able to use simple intra-oral scanners, which can be moved around the patient’s mouth to capture a digital impression. From there, the digital scan is transformed into a 3D printable model (through a DHA intranet) and sent directly to a 3D printer.
As Dr. Hamda Mesmar, the director of the Dental Services Department at the DHA, explains: “The 3D image helps us with accurate planning and precision especially for complicated dental procedures and surgeries. Patients will greatly benefit from the use of this technology as it helps in better patient outcomes as well as substantially reduces waiting time and cost of care.”
Within weeks, a number of dental clinics operating in the Primary Health Care Centers will receive and begin using the new and innovative intra-oral scanners. The new devices are expected to reduce processing, production, and overall waiting times significantly. Traditionally, it can take several hours to make a patient-specific dental mold using impressions and stone molds. With 3D printers in tow, dental clinics could feasibly produce 18 resin molds within just 6 hours.
In addition to the time advantage, the DHA has also reported that using the intra-oral scanners and 3D printing method could result in more accurate impressions and pose less of a risk in terms of infections. Additionally, because the digital image of the patient’s mouth is stored, 3D models can be re-inspected and re-printed with ease.
It's not only the dental sector that will be benefitting from 3D printing technologies, however, as Dubai is also planning to introduce a new lightweight 3D printed prosthetic leg to its hospitals. Manufactured in Germany, the 3D printed prosthetic leg can be made within a day, and is substantially more affordable than traditional prosthetics. While the first of Dubai’s 3D printed implants might be imported, the DHA is hopeful it will start producing its own advanced prosthetics within the next decade.
Humaid Al Qatami, Director general of the DHA, commented: “Using 3D technology for surgeries and other medical purposes is the future. We are currently working on developing regulations for 3D printing for patients and the medical sector in Dubai. We are also looking at training doctors and health care professionals on the use of this technology.”
Check out more of Dubai’s 3D printing efforts:
- Dubai Future Foundation partners with Autodesk to set up $100m 3D printing fund
- Dubai plans to 3D print fully residential building, officially launches Future Accelerators program
- By 2017 all Dubai hospitals will be using 3D printing for pre-surgical models and more
- Dubai set to build world's first 3D printed laboratory for 3D printing and drone research
- Dubai opens world's first 3D printed 'Office of the Future', completed in just 17 days
- 25% of Dubai's buildings to be 3D printed by 2030, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed announces
Posted in 3D Printing Application
Maybe you also like:
- T-Bone Cape motion control board launches on Indiegogo
- New extruder could lower costs of 3D printing cellular structures for drug testing
- New Ninja Printer Plate for consumer 3D printing
- mUVe3D releases improved Marlin firmware for all 3D printers
- Zecotek plans HD 3D display for 3D printers
- Add a smart LCD controller to your Robo3D printer
- Maker Kase: a handy cabinet for 3D printers
- Heated bed for ABS printing with the Printrbot Simple XL
- Next gen all metal 3D printer extruder from Micron
- Pico all-metal hotend 100% funded in 48 hours, B3 announces Stretch Goal
- Create it REAL announces first 3D printing Real Time Processor
- A larger and more powerful 3D printer extruder on Kickstarter
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
