First 3D-printed complete lower jaw implant

In June 2011 an 83-year-old woman underwent surgery at the Orbis Medisch Centrum in Sittard‐Geleen, Netherlands, during which she was implanted with a complete lower jaw created by a 3D printer. The operation, which lasted less than four hours, was a complete success but was not publicized until February 2012. The jaw was made from titanium powder, which was fused together layer by layer using a laser. The titanium lower jaw was created by Belgian company LayerWise in collaboration with scientists at the University of Hasselt, also in Belgium. The patient was able to speak and swallow normally a day after the operation. The implant includes articulated joints and grooves to direct the growth of nerve and vein tissue. The 3D printing process takes 33 layers to build up 1 mm of titanium.