Modern trends in extra oral maxillofacial prosthesis - a review

Maxillofacial prosthesis are usually fabricated on the basis of conventional impressions and techniques. The extent to which the prosthesis reproduced normal facial morphology depends on the clinical judgement and skill of the individual fabricating the Prosthesis. Recently, as a result of advances in digitized imaging technology like Laser Surface digitizer with CAD/CAM, CT, MRI Sequence, and Rapid prototyping techniques have been successfully introduced for the automated fabrication of auricular prosthesis. To obtain design and fabrication of prosthesis replicas and molding technique for casting prosthetic parts with the new manufacturing approach shows reduced patient discomfort, minimal dependence on the artistic skills of the prosthestist short turn around times for the prosthesis can be expected

Conventional and advanced techniques in prosthodontic preservation and surgical management of residual alveolar ridge - a review

Prevention of alveolar bone loss and maintenance of alveolar bone structure are mandatory for long-term stability of conventional or implant-supported complete dentures. Extraction of teeth may result in 40% to 60% alveolar bone loss in a period of two to three years. Several conditions, including aging, facial lines, unaesthetic dental restorations and loss of vertical dimension, are often accelerated by premature loss of facial bone. Bone maintenance is the procedure of preserving bone after tooth loss. Every attempt should be made at the time of tooth loss to preserve the height and width of the jawbone. An unsatisfactory ridge morphology may result from periodontal disease, trauma or endodontic complications. Consideration must be given, during tooth extraction, to the final shape of the alveolar ridge and overlying soft tissue and to the optimal esthetic and functional result of the final tooth replacement. Soft and hard tissue complications can lead to unsatisfactory results for the patient, including unacceptable tooth morphology, poor phonetics and lack of confidence in denture stability. These problems may be prevented at the diagnosis and consultation stage. This review mainly includes various conventional and advanced prosthodontic and surgical techniques to enhance the residual alveolar ridge preservation