Implementation of Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Digital Sculpting and Three-Dimensional Printing in Facial Epithesis—A Technical Note

Abstract

Prosthetic rehabilitation has hardly changed since the 1970s, and it is a time-consuming process that requires great skill and precision. This article presents the workflow related to the prosthetic reconstruction of patients with extensive maxillofacial defects using digital technologies such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), Zbrush software and three-dimensional (3D) printing. The use of CBCT captures a 3D image of a patient’s face in a few seconds, thus shortening the time to prepare an impression and increasing the patient’s comfort. Zbrush digital sculpting software enables one to quickly and efficiently design a prosthetic restoration. Printing a trial version for a try-on, as well as designing and printing pre-cast forms, improves workflow and eliminates the chances of an error. As shown in the example of a patient after a nasal resection, CBCT, digital sculpting, and 3D printing accelerate and improve the workflow of an anaplastologist when designing the epithesis. New technologies reduce costs and save time, while helping to overcome the technical obstacles that limit access to a facial prosthesis.