THANDI XABA
Two patients received ground-breaking titanium implants after having lost parts of their faces due to cancer and other related diseases at Kimberley Hospital. Dr Cules Van den Heever says mandible implants were created with the 3D printing and the future of bone and facial surgeries is looking bright.
“Titanium powder is used, placed on a flat surface, fused by using laser beams, welded by the beam layer by layer until fully formed lower jaw,” he says
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Central University of Technology’s Centre for Rapid Prototyping Manufacturing manufactured the 3D implants. The centre boats state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, thanks to the investment and support from the National Research Foundation. Custom designed structures can take up to 6-15hours to form.
