---
title: ""Surgeons have successfully implanted a titanium 3D-printed…"
date: 2019-12-10
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
---

# "Surgeons have successfully implanted a titanium 3D-printed…

*December 10, 2019 · Facebook*

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[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-20/melbourne-man-receives-titanium-3d-printed-prosthetic-jaw/6536788](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-20/melbourne-man-receives-titanium-3d-printed-prosthetic-jaw/6536788){target="_blank"}
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\"Surgeons have successfully implanted a titanium 3D-printed prosthetic jaw in a Melbourne man in an Australian-first operation.\
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It is hoped the success of the locally designed and tested part will lead to high-tech export opportunities.\
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The patient, 32-year-old psychologist Richard Stratton, was missing part of his jawbone including the left condyle, the joint to the skull.\
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He believed part of his jaw never grew properly after he received a bad knock to the jaw during childhood.\
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In the past few years, he has suffered increasing pain while chewing or moving his jaw and he has not been able to fully open his mouth.\
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Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr George Dimitroulis designed a prototype prosthesis that was refined and tested by experts at Melbourne University\'s mechanical engineering department.\
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Dr Dimitroulis said that while there had been a handful of 3D-printed jaw operations worldwide, he was not aware of any that incorporated a titanium part and a 3D-printed plastic jaw joint.\
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\"In terms of joint replacement specifically, what we call the TMJ - the temporomandibular joint - we suspect that this may be the first 3D-printed jaw joint in the world,\" he said.\"\
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[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-20/melbourne-man-receives-titanium-3d-printed-prosthetic-jaw/6536788](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-20/melbourne-man-receives-titanium-3d-printed-prosthetic-jaw/6536788){target="_blank"}
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