Retentive aids and a comparison between conventional and digital workflow in maxillofacial prosthodontics: A review.

Abstract

A maxillofacial prosthesis, an alternative to surgery for the rehabilitation of patients with facial disabilities, are meant to replace parts of the face or missing areas of bone and soft tissue and restore oral functions such as swallowing, speech and chewing, with the main goal being to improve the quality of life of the patients. One of the most important factors that determines the success of a maxillofacial prosthesis is retention. Retention has always been a problem in prosthodontics. Increased retention improves comfort as well as the confidence in the patient while wearing a facial prosthesis at work and in social settings. The journey from using metal bands to using adhesives to placing implants for retaining maxillofacial prosthesis has been fascinating and satisfying to many clinicians. The conventional procedures for maxillofacial prosthesis manufacturing involve several complex steps, are very traumatic for the patient and rely on the skills of the maxillofacial team. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing have opened a new approach to the fabrication of maxillofacial prostheses. The present article tries to describe different types of retentive aids, classification and to perform an update on the digital design of a maxillofacial prosthesis.