Experts from theHerman Ostrow School of Dentistry在University of Southern California(USC) have expressed concerns about businesses offering direct-to-customer 3D printed aligner services.
对这种服务的担忧是，患者在与正畸医生一对一咨询提供的关键护理步骤中错过了。这可能包括颌X射线和一般牙科健康检查，这是牙齿整体健康的基础。
USC alumni Nehi Ogbevoen, now an accomplished orthodontist, explains, “There’s a lot of things we can catch on an X-ray — for example, impacted teeth. There are other things we can catch that, if you aren’t seeing a dentist regularly, can be really scary.”
他补充说：“我们不仅想改善美学，而且想提高咬合的功能。”
“我们正在努力计划您的咬人和微笑，以及他们在接下来的40年中如何变老。”
这open-source dental opportunity
在2016年著名设计师阿莫斯·达德利shed significant light on the power of 3D printing in dentistry by创建自己的矫正牙套在家。这博客绘制他的本土牙科护理项目，有免责声明，建议读者不要自己采取此类行动。但是，似乎在专业牙科市场中引发了一些关注。
Not only this, but entrepreneurs seeking to cash-in on the opportunities offered by dental 3D printing have also started cropping up. And this, in particular, is what comes under scrutiny at USC.
这problem with “DIY” dentistry
作为牙科中的知名品牌Invisalign当然是该领域中受人尊敬的业务。但是，“世界上最大的最先进的3D打印技术用户，用于使高度准确，定制的对准器，”不是南加州大学评论家针对的机会主义者。
Invisalign requires patients to organize an appointment before seeking treatment. It is instead such businesses that seem to solely operate online that have come under fire. Those that allow a patient to submit their own 3D scanned dental model for consideration, without consultation.
这problem here can be that any existing dental-health conditions can fly under the radar, causing deeper issues for the patient. In particular Hany Youssef, faculty member at the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, has come face-to-face with a patient who suffered negative side effects due to a condition missed when undertaking this type of “DIY” dental care.
How to get low-cost dental care
Rather than scaremongering though, the recommendation here is that patients should be asking lots of questions before they go ahead with the low-cost alternative. It is also making orthodonists reflect on the high cost of treatment and, USC experts, believe that this new, more convenient approach will have a trickle-down effect on the wider dental industry.
USC高级正畸证书计划董事长兼计划主管Glenn T. Sameshima表示，需要考虑可访问性。他补充说：“我看到了未来，从现在起20到30年，当他们能够组合清晰的对准器和括号的结合时，3D打印将这些成本降低了。”
Nominate yourDental Application of the Year现在还有2019年3D印刷行业奖。
对于所有最新的医疗和牙科3D打印更新，请订阅3D打印行业newsletter， 跟着我们推特and like us onFacebook.
Join3D打印作业找到下一个机会。
Featured image shows braces illustration. Image via Kreatikar on Pixabay
