Digitization in Skin Shade Matching for Maxillofacial Prostheses: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Color matching of maxillofacial prostheses for the restoration of maxillofacial defects is an important factor for esthetic results. Various methods have been introduced for the accurate and reliable color matching of prostheses with the skin color of patients. A systematic review was conducted to search the existing literature on color-matching digital techniques for maxillofacial prostheses. An electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 2000 to December 2022 using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Two independent reviewers conducted the search. Eight articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria after a full-text evaluation were included in this review. Most of these studies were published in prosthodontics journals and conducted in various countries around the world. A computerized color formulation system was used in three studies; a non-contact spectroradiometer (PR 705; Photo Research Inc., Chatsworth, CA) with a Xenon arc lamp was used in two studies; a mobile phone colorimeter was used in one study; additive manufacturing of 3D facial skin with a spectrophotometer was used in one study; and a recently introduced computerized method known as e-skin (Spectromatch, Bath, UK) was used in two studies. Most of these methods were accurate in color matching, except for the additive manufacturing system, which showed less accuracy, but good repeatability. Owing to a lack of sufficient studies, no method can be labeled as the best method for color-matching maxillofacial prostheses. The latest computerized method, the e-skin, can be used to achieve better accuracy and good color matching. However, further studies are required to validate the use of e-skin for precise color matching.