Medical Science: Recent Advances and Applications Vol. 6

Abstract

It is the god given right of every human being to appear human. Face is the patient’s contact with the world and it forms the physical basis for personal recognition. In today’s appearance-conscious society, having a reasonably pleasant appearance has become almost mandatory for social acceptance. Few areas of dentistry offer more challenges to the technical skills or greater satisfaction for the successful rehabilitation of function and esthetics in the patient with gross anatomic defects and deformities of the maxillofacial region. Although remarkable advances in the surgical management of oral and facial defects, but cannot be satisfactorily repaired by plastic surgery alone. Hence, the demand for maxillofacial prosthetic devices for the rehabilitation of patients with congenital or acquired defects has intensified in recent years. This study gives an insight into the latest innovations and improvisations in the field of maxillofacial prosthodontics. Maxillofacial prosthetist normally provides appliances and devices to restore esthetics and function to the patient who cannot be restored to normal appearance or function by means of plastic reconstruction. Biocompatibility is the major prerequisite for a prosthetic material, but the prosthesis must also be easy and inexpensive to fabricate. Over the years, there has been some improvement in facial biomaterials; but still, there exists a clear need for new or improved facial materials in all clinical situations. Maxillofacial prosthetists as a part of anaplastological team can rehabilitate maxillofacial disfigurement with more comfortable, durable, and life-like prosthesis using the latest research, advancements, materials, and techniques in the field to create confidence and a sense of well‑being to the patients.