Thailand succeeds in developing low-cost artificial tooth roots
 
Thai researchers have succeeded in developing low-cost artificial tooth roots, significantly reducing the cost of dental implants.
 
This development has allowed the Thai government to offer free treatments through its healthcare scheme.
 
Recently, the Department of Health under the Ministry of Public Health, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) overseeing the Universal Coverage Scheme, and the Dental Innovation Foundation under Royal Patronage co-launched a health program to increase elderly people’s access to dental implants.

 
This partnership is part of the Thai government’s commemoration of the sixth-cycle birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, who will turn 72 years old in 2024.
 
Providing Thai people with free dental implants is made possible by innovation, said Worawut Kulklaw, secretary-general of the Dental Innovation Foundation under Royal Patronage.
 
The researchers in his foundation collaborated with the Faculty of Dentistry at three leading universities — Chulalongkorn, Mahidol and Chiang Mai University — to develop low-cost dental roots.
 
They eventually succeeded. Their product was certified by global dentistry organizations — making Thailand the second country in Asia after South Korea achieved high-standard artificial tooth root development. 
 
This success allows the Thai government to include dental implants in the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) which ensure healthcare access to 47 million people in Thailand.
 

Worawut said that the development of low-cost artificial roots will increase people’s access to dental implants — the treatment that improves the quality of life for people, especially the elderly who often deal with teeth loss.
 
Each root cost around 3,000 baht, significantly cheaper than the imported roots widely used in private dental clinics that cost between 40,000 and 50,000 baht per root.
 

“Usually, artificial roots must be imported from high-innovative countries like German, Switzerland, the United States and South Korea — making their cost hike up. That's why only people with the power of purchase can access dental implants,” said Worawut.
 
“Thailand’s success in developing artificial roots will drive down this cost, and make many people access the treatment without financial barrier.”
 
He added that the development of low-cost artificial roots was inspired by the speech of His majesty King Rama XI, who urged relevant sectors to improve the oral health of the elderly.   
 
This leads the researchers to name the artificial root model as PRK, which stands for Pharam Kao or means Rama XI. 
 
It is produced in the factory run by the Dental Innovation Foundation under Royal Patronage located in Sam Pran district in Nakhon Phatom province.
 

The factory can produce 100,000 roots per year, which are distributed to public hospitals under the Public Health Ministry and private clinics.
 
Some of them will be exported to foreign countries through government-to-government agreements.
 
Around 100,000 roots were provided to 50,000 UCS beneficiaries after the launch of the model.
 
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