Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a new way to create personalized gum grafts. They are using a mix of 3D bioprinting and artificial intelligence (AI). Led by Assistant Professor Gopu Sriram from the Faculty of Dentistry, this new method is easier and less painful than traditional treatments, which usually involve removing tissue from the patient’s own mouth. That old method can be painful and sometimes does not provide enough tissue.
This new approach could make treating gum diseases and dental implant problems much simpler. Because the grafts are made to fit each patient perfectly, treatments could work better, feel more comfortable, and lower the chances of problems like infections.
3D Bioprinting and AI: A Big Step for Custom Gum Treatments
Before, gum grafts were done by taking tissue from the mouth, which could be painful and risky. Now, with 3D bioprinting, scientists can build gum tissue without needing to cut tissue from the patient. They even made a special “bioink” that helps new cells grow and keeps the printed tissue strong and stable.
Making perfect 3D-printed grafts used to be slow because many settings — like printing speed, pressure, and temperature — had to be adjusted by hand. This could take a long time and cost a lot. To fix this, the team used AI to speed things up.
Professor Dean Ho, head of the biomedical engineering department at NUS, said,
“We used AI to make the 3D bioprinting process much faster. Instead of trying thousands of combinations, AI helped us find the best way using only about 25 tries.”
The printed gum tissues looked and behaved very much like real gums. They stayed healthy for at least 18 days after printing, kept their shape, and even had important proteins and layers like natural gum tissue.
Assistant Professor Sriram added,
“This research shows how AI and 3D printing together can solve tough medical problems. By making grafts that are just right for each person, we can make dental treatments less painful and help patients heal better.”
Professor Gopu Sriram, Dr. Jacob Chew, and Professor Dean Ho from NUS are the team behind this exciting new method of creating custom gum grafts using AI and 3D bioprinting.
This discovery could also help create better grafts for other tissues, like skin, helping wounds heal without scars.
You can read more in the press release from the University of Singapore.
Source: 3dnatives
