July 2017—Dubai dentists are advancing dental technology using 3D printers to print teeth within this year. Dental clinics in Dubai Healthcare City are expected to use the technology for surgeries and other purposes, providing them the opportunity to plan procedures and minimize the use of invasive procedures.

DHA’s Efforts to Advance Healthcare
The Dubai government aims to place the city, and consequently the nation of the UAE, as a primary hub for 3D printing technology by the year 2030. For now, the technology is beginning to be widely used in dentistry. A senior official said that using the technology to print teeth is just the beginning of DHA’s ambitious plans to launch and use 3D printing in all healthcare fields.

According to the director-general and chairman of DHA, Humaid Al Qatami, authorities are putting their best foot forward in integrating technology to create better outcomes for patients. It can be remembered that the DHA in Dubai is the first to launch and use a smart pharmacy in prescribing medication. The robot in the Rashid Hospital alone can store about 35,000 medicines and 12 prescriptions in less than a minute.

Now, the organization wants to extend the use of technology in healthcare further. They deem the using 3D technology allows dentists and doctors to plan their surgeries and procedures better and less invasive.

The Use of 3D Printing in Dental Clinics
Research is being conducted for mass production of dental paraphernalia using 3D technology. This has been confirmed by the director of the Office of Organizational Transformation in DHA, Dr. Mohammed Al Redha. He says that the DHA aims to understand the different ways to regulate the use of the technology to benefit the residents in Dubai and medical tourists.

The best dental clinic in Dubai is expected to begin the production of 3D printed paraphernalia by scanning the teeth using an intra-oral scanner. The process creates a digital impression of the teeth. Images created by a dentist in Dubai will are sent to the 3D printing machine and sent to other dentists. The machine replicates the image into a 3D model.

The 3D model then helps in accurately planning for more complicated dental surgeries and procedures. Thus, there will be a lesser possibility of mistakes.
Since the technology allows dental clinics in Dubai to produce veneers and dental implants with high accuracy and precision, patients can expect the best outcomes with reduced waiting time and dental care costs.

The implementation of 3D technology in dental clinics in Dubai will start in the second half of 2017. Using the technology will help the top dentist in Dubai cater to the local population and medical tourists alike.

If successful, the DHA is expected to extend the reach of 3D printing in other areas of healthcare. Hospitals in Dubai can benefit from the technology as well. As of now, the authorities have to observe the results and research more on the technology’s implications.