I'm an Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeon working with a trauma hospital and academic setup in Delhi. We get our 3D models, from Curewith3D, a dedicated 3D lab equipped with FDM and SLA 3D printers, focused on presurgical planning and patient-specific modeling.
We routinely use 3D printed anatomical models, especially for complex facial reconstructions, TMJ cases, and orthognathic surgeries. They’re invaluable for surgical rehearsals, resident training, and most importantly, patient education. When patients can physically hold their jaw model and understand the procedure, consent becomes more informed and anxiety levels drop.
As for printing surgical instruments or implants, we’re cautious. While the 3D orthopedic implants we design are precise and patient-specific, their final manufacturing still goes through standard biocompatible grade processes. Like in most regions, concerns about sterilization, structural integrity, and litigation prevent experimental tools from entering the OR directly. That said, the potential for custom joint replacement implants and 3D knee replacement implants in underserved areas is enormous. We see 3D printing as a huge enabler in low-resource and humanitarian settings.