Present and future of extraoral maxillofacial prosthodontics: Cancer rehabilitation

Abstract

Historically, facial prosthetics have successfully rehabilitated individuals with acquired or congenital anatomical deficiencies of the face. This history includes extensive efforts in research and development to explore best practices in materials, methods, and artisanal techniques. Presently, extraoral maxillofacial rehabilitation is managed by a multiprofessional team that has evolved with a broadened scope of knowledge, skills, and responsibility. This includes the mandatory integration of different professional specialists to cover the bio-psycho-social needs of the patient, systemic health and pathology surveillance, and advanced restorative techniques, which may include 3D technologies. In addition, recent digital workflows allow us to optimize this multidisciplinary integration and reduce the active time of both patients and clinicians, as well as improve the cost-efficiency of the care system, promoting its access to both patients and health systems. This paper discusses factors that affect extraoral maxillofacial rehabilitation's present and future opportunities from teamwork consolidation, techniques utilizing technology, and health systems opportunities.

An Update of Eyeglasses-Supported Nasal–Facial Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients with Post-Surgical Complications: A Case Report

“…They emphasized the importance of the prosthesis fit during patient's facial movements. The silicone processing and the intrinsic and extrinsic coloring are still made with traditional procedures; the use of colorimetry and spectrophotometry systems may provide easily acquired and repeatable skin-color matching [30].…”

Evaluation of additive manufacturing processes in the production of oculo-palpebral prosthesis

“…With the method proposed by the NGO "Mais Identidade", global work times can be reduced by half. 3 In the elaboration of a facial prosthesis, three main stages must be carried out 4 : obtaining the shape of the patient's anatomy, traditionally cast from a plaster mold; modelling, made from thermoplastic materials for modelling; and fabrication, using a negative version of the sculpture and placing layers of intrinsically characterized medical grade silicones; in addition to the fabrication of the ocular prosthesis, 5,6 with the different difficulties that this can entail, which will finally form part of the maxillofacial prosthesis. But, in the manufacturing process of these prostheses, the patient's self-perception, emotional stability, personality characteristics and social circumstances are the most important factors when treating maxillofacial defects, as well as the rehabilitation process.…”

Biomimetic treatment of epitheses for the rehabilitation of maxillofacial defects

“…Хирургическое вмешательство может включать нёбную, носовую и орбитальную зоны, что приводит к приобретенным дефектам средней части лица, обычно связанных с обезображиванием внешнего вида и функциональными нарушениями у пациентов. Такие поражения можно лечить с помощью хирургической реконструкции и ортопедической реабилитации [5][6][7] . Несмотря на последние достижения в хирургических методах лечения реконструкция больших дефектов остается сложной задачей.…”