Man Gets Teeth From Shoulder

Need proof for how 3D computed tomography (CT) scans are revolutionizing dentistry? Check out today’s Daily Mail. The paper reports on an astonishing tale of a UK businessman who lost his jawbone due to cancer, but then had it replaced by a group of surgeons who removed part of his shoulder blade to create a new jawbone. Then, by utilizing the latest dental implant technology, new teeth were screwed into the jawbone.

According to Iain Hutchison, the oral surgeon who led the team of surgeons in this case, this was the “first time a patient has had more than half their jaw removed and has woken up with more teeth than they had before the operation.” Incredibly, the patient was in the hospital for less than three weeks and reported no difficulty playing golf, even though he lost a decent part of his shoulder.

What made this incredibly impressive surgical feat possible? The use of 3D computed tomography (CT) scan technology. 3D CT scans, i.e. Cone Beam CT, is one of the hottest topics in implant dentistry, and these scans are becoming an increasingly vital case planning tool for top oral surgeons and other dentists.

Dr. Hutchison explained that, “Before operating, I was able to work out precisely how I was going to cut the bone from Barry’s shoulder blade using an exact resin model of his jaw taken from a 3D computed tomography (CT) scan and printed on a 3D printer.” He continues, “We had been able to pre-bend the plate to the exact shape of the jaw’s outer surface using the 3D model. Previously, we have had to do this freehand, which lengthens surgery by a couple of hours.”

For a complete description of the surgery process, visit the Daily Mail.