Smithsonian Cites American Council On 3D Printed Teeth

Poor oral health is tied to "poor living conditions, low education, and lack of traditions, according to Heather Hansman at Smithsonian.com.

Some 26 percent of adults have untreated tooth decay, it's particularly prevalent in low income populations, and it's been linked to a whole host of health issues, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, poor pregnancy outcomes and dementia. Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have come up with a way to 3D print teeth and other dental implants out of antimicrobial polymers. The new teeth would kill the bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, which collects in the mouth and causes tooth decay.

We talked about the breakthrough here and Smithsonian notes that long-term tests will see how the polymer holds up over time and how it interacts with things like toothpaste to make sure it doesn't breakdown or become less effective with wear, and to see how it impacts the user.