title: Rapid prototyping-assisted maxillofacial reconstruction.
abstract: Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies have found many uses in dentistry, and especially oral and maxillofacial surgery, due to its ability to promote product development while at the same time reducing cost and depositing a part of any degree of complexity theoretically. This paper provides an overview of RP technologies for maxillofacial reconstruction covering both fundamentals and applications of the technologies. Key fundamentals of RP technologies involving the history, characteristics, and principles are reviewed. A number of RP applications to the main fields of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including restoration of maxillofacial deformities and defects, reduction of functional bone tissues, correction of dento-maxillofacial deformities, and fabrication of maxillofacial prostheses, are discussed. The most remarkable challenges for development of RP-assisted maxillofacial surgery and promising solutions are also elaborated.
authors: Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan 410008 , China.
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Peng
authors: Zhangui
authors: Z
authors: Tang
authors: Ousheng
authors: O
authors: Liu
authors: Zhiwei
authors: Z
authors: Peng
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D017076:Computer-Aided Design / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D008447:Maxillofacial Prosthesis; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Biomaterials; computer-aided design (CAD); imaging; maxillofacial reconstruction; rapid prototyping (RP)