Nationwide — Mya Buie, a 17-year-old African American girl from West Des Moines, Iowa, was shot in the face and nearly lost her jaw. However, doctors were able to use AI and a 3D-printed plate to reconstruct her jaw, giving her a second chance to smile.
Buie was allegedly shot by her mother’s ex-boyfriend in late October, just days before her birthday. The .40-caliber bullet shattered Buie’s jaw into tiny fragments and permanently damaged four of her teeth, leaving her in critical condition.
Dr. Simon Wright, a facial trauma surgeon, first met Buie three months ago. He performed two surgeries while she was in intensive care — one to stabilize her jaw and another to rebuild it. “To do something complicated like this… it’s really an inspiring thing to be part of,” Wright said, according to KAIT8.
Traditionally, repairing a broken jaw requires bending titanium plates by hand, a slow process that can take weeks and may not fit perfectly. This time, doctors used AI to analyze Buie’s CT scan and a 3D printer to create a custom jawbone plate. The approach cut surgery time in half and ensured a more precise fit.
“It’s so much easier than trying to bend a plate over and over again to get it perfect,” Wright said.
Buie’s jawbone plate was made in record time for Des Moines trauma surgeons. Over the next few months, it will fuse with her bone, restoring strength and function. She will also receive dental implants to replace her lost teeth.
Through her recovery, Buie calls her survival a miracle. “I thank God every day for giving me a second chance at life. I’m very grateful,” she said, sharing her story as a testament to hope and resilience.