Maxillectomy is the surgical removal or resection of the maxilla or upper jaw bone. Maxillectomy may be total or partial. It is performed during surgical treatment of cancer and infections (bacterial. fungal) of the oral cavity, nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses. Patient affected from post-Covid mucormycosis require local debridement or surgical resection resulting in maxillectomy. After surgery, patient has difficulty in mastication, speech, and swallowing because of communication between oral and nasal cavity. This may also give rise to psychological challenges and social exclusion. The prosthodontic rehabilitation of such patient using obturator provide a separation between oral and nasal cavity and improve the quality of life of the patient. There are various techniques and materials used for fabrication of definitive obturator. This article discusses the prosthodontic rehabilitation after maxillectomy in post-covid mucormycosis patients using obturator by conventional and 3D printed techniques.
Tag Archives: 3D printing
Digitally designed fixed dental prosthesis with stress breaking effect using non-rigid connector for pier abutment: A case report
Rigid connectors between pontic and retainer are preferred way of fabricating fixed partial dentures for many decades as they provide desirable strength, retention and stability to the prosthesis. However, it is not ideal for cases such as lone-standing abutments (pier abutment), maligned teeth where occlusal stress can extrude the restoration. This may lead to marginal leakage and secondary caries on the abutment teeth. Conversely, it is recommended to use non-rigid connectors which act as a stress breaker, where the tensile stresses are concentrated on the surrounding bone and not on the connectors. With advancement in digital technology in dentistry, the non-rigid connectors can be fabricated using additive manufacturing technology. The present case report discusses the Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) designed fixed dental prosthesis with key and keyway (Tenon and Mortise) non-rigid connector for rehabilitation of pier abutment in maxillary posterior region.
Three-dimensional technologies used for patient specific applications in orthopedics
Background: Three-dimensional (3D) technologies have numerous medical applications and have gained a lot of interest in medical world. After the advent of three-dimensional printing technology, and especially in last decade, orthopedic surgeons began to apply this innovative technology in almost all areas of orthopedic traumatic surgery.
Objective: The aim of this paper is to give an overview of 3D technologies current usage in orthopedic surgery for patient specific applications. Methods: Two major databases PubMed and Web of Science were explored for content description and applications of 3D technologies in orthopedic surgery. It was considered papers presenting controlled studies and series of cases that include descriptions of 3D technologies compatible with applications to human medical purposes.
Results: First it is presented the available three-dimensional technologies that can be used in orthopedic surgery as well as methods of integration in order to achieve the desired medical application for patient specific orthopedics. Technology starts with medical images acquisition, followed by design, numerical simulation, and printing. Then it is described the state of the art clinical applications of 3D technologies in orthopedics, by selecting the latest reported articles in medical literature. It is focused on preoperative visualization and planning, trauma, injuries, elective orthopedic surgery, guides and customized surgical instrumentation, implants, orthopedic fixators, orthoses and prostheses.
Conclusion: The new 3D digital technologies are revolutionizing orthopedic clinical practices. The vast potential of 3D technologies is increasingly used in clinical practice. These technologies provide useful tools for clinical environment: accurate preoperative planning for cases of complex trauma and elective cases, personalized surgical instruments and personalized implants. There is a need to further explore the vast potential of 3D technologies in many other areas of orthopedics and to accommodate healthcare professionals with these technologies, as well as to study their effectiveness compared to conventional methods.