Using 3d Printed Dental Implants for Cleft Palate Surgeries

Over the four years of high school, I worked to publish “An Experimental Study Evaluating the Role of an Osteoconductive Scaffold in the Treatment of Alveolar Cleft in a Rabbit Model” (Rodriguez, 2019). I am very proud of this work because many high schools lack the resources to allow students to perform lab research. There are no programs available to school counselors that provide students research opportunities, get published or even inspire them on how to do this. I want you to know that I believe that high schoolers should do research; we can do amazing things if we put our minds to it. Below is a summary of the research I did, and I know that it will have an impact down the line and motivates you to pursue the same path.

In its most basic form, the research consists of placing a new type of 3d printed dental implant in the damaged area of the cleft lip of a rabbit. This damaged area with the new implant showed signs of regenerating bone, which is usually not the case. This was possible because of three aspects, the actual capabilities of the 3d printer, the geometric structure of the implant, and the chemicals used to make the implant.

3d inks, LLC designed the machine used for the printing (Rodriguez, 2019). It was made for scientific printing and easily cost thousands of dollars. It was able to print four of these dental implants in 24 hours. It took so long because I needed to print the perfect shape in order to have any effect. The printer could print the implants to the nearest millimeter. This ability made it so that the implant could get printed to the damaged areas’ exact dimensions thus allowing a perfect fit.

The geometric shape is a part of the implant that goes in conjunction with the printer. The implant’s actual structure was in a lattice structure, which is when strips of material are crossed together into squares in a tic tac toe pattern. It was the most efficient pattern to cover and support the area where the damage was.

The final aspect of the implant is where all the magic comes together. The actual implant’s chemical makeup was made up of beta tri-calcium phosphate. This chemical is bioactive, meaning it interacts with any biological matter, like human or animal matter. This implant being made out of a specific chemical through an advanced 3d printer and is how the bone could regenerate in areas that before could not. Thus would allow the bone to regenerate over the implant and eventually dissolve.

I was fortunate to have this opportunity to do this research. It was pivotal in my formation as a young man and helped me choose my path towards medicine. I hope this provides some insight into helping you pursue research opportunities during your high school years and leads you to many new scientific discoveries.

References

Rodriguez, J. H. (2019, March 22). An Experimental Study Evaluating the Role of an Osteoconductive Scaffold in the Treatment of Alveolar Cleft in a Rabbit Model. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://ysjournal.com/an-experimental-study-evaluating-the-role-of-an-osteoconductive-scaffold-in-the-treatment-of-alveolar-cleft-in-a-rabbit-model/