Sydney Dental Hospital wins the latest round of The Pitch with a fresh orthodontic implant workflow using 3D printing.
 

The speed and accuracy of 3D printing is set to radically alter the time it takes to provide orthodontic devices for Sydney Dental Hospital patients.

The orthodontics team at Sydney Dental Hospital was awarded $30,000 to fund a new digital workflow using 3D printing, at the November 2025 round of The Pitch – Sydney Local Health District’s staff innovation program.

The 3D printer and associated workflow will allow metal orthodontic appliances to be made and altered in a matter of hours rather than weeks. It will significantly reduce the wait times for orthodontic treatment and offer a faster service and turnaround time for patients who may already be managing disability, cognitive decline or other complex needs.

“Our current workflow means many of our patients need to wait for two to three weeks for their initial device, and then a further wait if they need adjustments made,” said the project lead, Dr Narayan Gandedkar, Orthodontics Staff Specialist at Sydney Dental Hospital.

“Introducing the 3D printer and associated workflow will reduce that turnaround time from three weeks to two hours. Our technicians are especially excited by the scalability and efficiencies the printer can provide because it means they can spend more time and energy focusing on patient’s needs.”

The Pitch judges praised the initiative for its focus on patient satisfaction and staff engagement with the clever use of technology to deliver better outcomes for patients.

“It’s not easy to choose winners at The Pitch, because everyone brings such great ideas,” said Deb Willcox, Chief Executive of the District said.  

Five teams presented their ideas to a judging panel comprising Deb Willcox, Lyn White, Consumer Representative, Dr Andrew Hallahan, Executive Director Medical Services, Clinical Governance and Risk, Grace Scott, General Manager Balmain Hospital, Kenny Vuong, Director of Physiotherapy Sydney Local Health District and Head of Physiotherapy RPA Hospital. The panel praised the excellent standards of all entries and identified ways they would like to work with each team to explore opportunities for further development and support.

Other finalists included faster post-surgery brain cancer diagnostics, communal dining to support rehabilitation, electronic screening tools for older adults, and improved podiatric healing and function.

It was wonderful to have Concord Hospital consumers in the audience, with signs, to encourage their clinicians as they presented their ideas and advocated for the difference the care they have received has helped their daily lives.

Since The Pitch began in 2014, more than 400 ideas have been submitted by staff across the District, with more than $2 million in funding awarded to date. 

Watch the latest Pitch livestream