Artificial Intelligence in Maxillofacial Prosthetic Rehabilitation: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Abstract

Maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation is crucial for restoring aesthetics, function, and psychosocial well-being in patients with craniofacial defects resulting from congenital anomalies, trauma, or surgical resection of malignancies. Conventional fabrication techniques are labor-intensive, technique-sensitive, and highly dependent on clinician expertise and artistic skill. Recent advances in digital dentistry have introduced artificial intelligence (AI) as a promising adjunct in maxillofacial prosthodontics. AI-based technologies, including machine learning and deep learning algorithms, have demonstrated applications in diagnostic imaging, digital data acquisition, treatment planning, prosthesis design, CAD/CAM-assisted fabrication, and post-rehabilitation assessment. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the application of artificial intelligence in maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation, discusses its advantages and limitations, and highlights future directions for clinical implementation.