Written By: Kelly Buckman By now, it should be clear to all of us that cutting-edge technological advances are key to the future of healthcare in the 21st century. In fact, it’s rare to receive medical care these days without some aspect of technology affecting us, from electronic health records (EHR’s) to wearable monitors to Virtual Reality diagnostics. It comes as little surprise then that the healthcare industry is blazing new trails when it comes to using technology to enhance, and even save, lives. One such example is the use of 3D printing, a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. Once primarily associated with graphic design and manufacturing, 3D printing is being used today to create a variety of medical devices, including instrumentation (e.g., guides to assist with proper surgical placement of a device), implants (e.g., cranial plates or hip joints), dental restorations such as crowns, hearing aids, prescription eyeglasses, and external pr...