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Filling the technology gap
Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. It’s five times more common than asthma, four times more common than early childhood obesity, and 20 times more common than diabetes. Dr Bien Lai Wen tells us more about early childhood caries which occurs in children under six years old and the recent advancements in the treatment of caries.
In India, the dental consumables are a growing market. They consist of medical devices like anesthetics, restorative material, light systems and diagnostic systems, for the treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Sharmistha Sarkar shares more on the growing dental tourism in India and the recent technological advancements in the dental world.
On the topic of technological advancements, we recently attended the Manufacturing Solutions Expo, in Singapore. Organised by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation and running for the fourth year, the conference and exhibition offered insights into how the manufacturing industry can prepare themselves for the digital revolution.
There is a paradigm shift among businesses from a pure productivity standpoint to re-evaluating business models. With evolving business models, it means a change in mindset to embrace digitalization and adopt a global perspective. During the conference, a stellar list of panelists discussed how we should go about developing a new mindset in university students, business owners and employees, of which first involves knowing what new skills-sets are needed in manufacturing. According to Professor Chong Tow Chong, provost of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, the three skills in digital transformation that we should embrace are artificial intelligence, data analytics and 3D printing. Among the exhibitors, one business stood out for us. UCT Additive Manufacturing Center is a manufacturer of subsystems and solutions for a variety of industries, and 3D printing is one of their solutions for healthcare. They manufacture a range of medical-grade solutions, some include dentures, bones, implants and prosthetics. UCT shared that their 3D printed-solutions can also be used as medical device training models or even as surgical guide simulation. It’s interesting how 3D printing does not only revolutionize personalized medical services, but it could also help medical research too, such as understanding how certain tumors manifest.
3D printing is one of the most disruptive technologies that have the potential to change medicine and healthcare by making care affordable, accessible and personalized. Let us see what the next few years will bring.
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