Like most kids, Amos Dudley has braces as a teenager. But, as he got older, he felt his teeth starting to shift back, and he began to get more self-conscious about his smile. At 24 years old, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) student set out to find his own solution. After all, what college student can afford the thousands of dollars companies like Invisalign and Damon charge for clear braces? Dudley used equipment at NJIT to scan models of his teeth then printed them out and molded plastic—non-toxic, of course— around them. The most difficult part for Dudley was the research. He had to figure out the correct measurements to realign his teeth in order to perfect the design and prevent damage to his teeth. Finally, he used a 3D printer at the school to create the alignment trays. With four months of use, Dudley’s teeth made noticeable improvements. The best part? It cost him a mere $60 total, all for the materials.
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