A College Student Is Helping Thousands in a Truly Unique Way

A Tennessee college student has found a unique way to give back to underserved communities — 3D-printed dentures.

While studying engineering, student Connor Gibson began volunteering with Remote Area Medical. This non-profit provides free medical, vision, and dental care across the United States through volunteer-run mobile clinics.

During his time with them, Gibson realized he could put his engineering expertise to good use to aid people further. By designing and creating 3D-printed dentures, he could cut wait times for this medical product from approximately 3 months to mere hours.

The Stats on Dentures

According to U.S. Census Data and the Simmons National Consumer Survey, almost 41 million people in the U.S. had dentures in 2020.

Some may believe that dentures are only for seniors, but dental trauma and tooth loss affect people of all ages. About 7% of those aged 20 and up are missing all their permanent teeth. Additionally, more than 36 million people in America in total are toothless.

Unfortunately, dentures can be extremely pricy, ranging anywhere from $2,000 to $55,000. Those prices are unaffordable for many, but because tooth loss is a significant concern for those living on limited means, dentures can become out of reach entirely.

How Connor Gibson Is Helping

When he began his volunteer journey, Gibson knew next to nothing about 3D printing or dentistry. So, he decided to dive into the subject as if he were studying for a test. He read documents, watched videos, and figured out how to use his own expertise to create dentures structured to each individual’s anatomy.

As a result, Gibson figured out how to print dentures that not only reduced wait times but were also completely free for patients. Three years after he began his journey, he’s helped thousands of Americans with their smiles.

In an interview with People, Gibson explained, “To see that raw, human emotion and just know that I played a change in this person’s life … it’s very humbling, and I’m beyond blessed.”

Nowadays, Gibson spends almost every weekend using the 3D printing machines he acquired for Remote Area Medical via grants to create more dentures and acts as the dental technology manager for the non-profit. Life may have gone in a different direction than expected, but he’s found this new direction more than rewarding.

(feature image: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels)

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