title: A CAD/CAM technique for fabricating facial prostheses: a preliminary report.
abstract: A computer-aided designing and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technique for clinical fabrication of facial prostheses was developed. Laser surface scanning was applied to acquire three-dimensional imaging data of the patient's facial defect. The three-dimensional imaging data was then transferred to a CAD/CAM interactive program for image processing, which then mathematically designed and produced a model for fabrication of the facial prosthesis. This CAD/CAM technique has the potential to simplify the procedure and decrease the laboratory work required compared to that required for the conventional plaster-cast method. This new technique also provides a novel approach to the fabrication of prostheses for the reconstruction of facial defects. Two alternative three-dimensional modeling processes, laser lithographic modeling and numerically controlled milling modeling, were integrated in this study. The possibilities and current limitations of the techniques are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iizuka
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019931:Maxillofacial Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D017233:Orbit Evisceration / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods; D014885:Waxes
chemical_list: D014885:Waxes