Digital workflow of facial prostheses manufacturing

Abstract

The current thesis touches upon the digital workflow and implementation of CAD/CAM for manufacturing of facial prostheses. It investigates the three inherent steps of a digital workflow: digitization, prothesis design and prothesis materialization. For a successful DW, an extraoral structured light scanner remains the state-of-the-art digitizer, as it allows for the most universal data capture, including morphology of the defect, contralateral side and the whole face. Currently, the DW in maxillofacial prosthetics lacks a plug-and-play solution, calling for special software development with a more extensive database of facial parts, retention elements and skin details. The evolution of prosthesis delivery in digital workflow seems to follow two parallel avenues: indirect mold making approach and rapid manufacturing. Both technical options are viable, however they stil show a need for improvements. Indirect mold making calls for a new wax printing method with skin-like wax and decreased costs. Rapid manufacturing calls for a new silicone multimaterial and multi-color printing hardware at an affordable price.