Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
07:30
3D Printing Model of a Patient's Specific Lumbar Vertebra
Published on: April 14, 2023
1.9K
Three-Dimensional Printed Patient-Specific Vestibular Augmentation: A Case Report.
Linh Johansson1,2,3,4,5, Jose Luis Latorre6, Margaux Liversain5
1Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|April 27, 2024
Summary
3D-printed synthetic bone grafts effectively reconstructed anterior maxilla defects, enabling stable dental implant placement and successful aesthetic rehabilitation. This innovative approach simplifies bone augmentation for challenging cases.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Aesthetic rehabilitation of the anterior maxilla presents significant challenges.
- Conventional bone augmentation techniques are often complex and invasive.
- 3D-printed bioceramic bone grafts offer a potential simplification for these interventions.
Observation:
- A patient-specific, 3D-printed synthetic bone graft was used to reconstruct a four-tooth anterior maxilla defect.
- The graft was designed using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and immobilized with screws.
- Bone augmentation and graft integration were monitored via CBCT, histology, and micro-CT over 13 months.
Findings:
- Significant horizontal bone gain (3.7 mm) achieved, resulting in 8 mm total bone width.
- The reconstructed bone provided sufficient stability for two dental implants (>35 N·cm insertion torque).
- Histological analysis revealed approximately 40.77% new bone, 41.51% graft material, and 17.72% soft tissue, with mature bone in direct contact with the graft, indicating excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity.
Implications:
- Patient-specific 3D-printed synthetic bone grafts are a viable and effective method for anterior maxilla horizontal ridge reconstruction.
- This technique simplifies bone augmentation procedures, facilitating predictable dental implant placement.
- Successful long-term stability and healthy soft tissues were observed 1 year after loading, highlighting the potential of this approach for aesthetic and functional oral rehabilitation.
