The future of maxillofacial prosthodontics in North America: The role of advanced digital technology and artificial intelligence - A discussion document.

Statement Of Problem: Maxillofacial prosthodontists were advanced digital technology (ADT) adopters early in the new Millennium. The past two decades saw a range of digital enablers emerge including digital imaging (internal and surface), digital surgical planning, digital functional assessment, subtractive and additive manufacturing, navigation, and robotics among others. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the latest ADT arrival that will be a challenging disruptive technology.

Application of organoselenium in inhibiting Candida albicans biofilm adhesion on 3D printed denture base material.

Purpose: Denture Stomatitis, a chronic mucosal inflammation associated with Candida albicans, is common among denture wearers. Several health conditions have been linked to chronic Candida infections. The complex, multifactorial nature of denture stomatitis requires the continuous pursuit of effective long-term solutions.

Bur Choice When Removing Zirconia Restorations.

Purpose: Removal of zirconia restorations can be challenging and time consuming, requiring dental burs with optimal cutting efficiency to minimize iatrogenic complications. Yet, there are very few burs marketed for this purpose and little evidence of their comparative benefit. This study evaluated one specialized bur and compared its cutting efficiency with three general-purpose burs (one single use and two multiple uses).

The future of maxillofacial prosthodontics in North America: Part I-Journey to the present.

Statement Of Problem: Understanding how maxillofacial prosthodontists are perceiving changes in head and neck care and the impact of advanced digital technologies on maxillofacial prosthodontics is important. However, no studies could be identified that specifically addressed these subjects.

Purpose: The purpose of this review of selected literature was to identify issues that guided the development of maxillofacial prosthodontics and the concerns that persist.

The future of maxillofacial prosthodontics in North America: Part II - A survey.

Statement Of Problem: Head and neck care has been transformed by the introduction of advanced digital technologies that will continue to be important change drivers for maxillofacial prosthodontics. Insight into these changes is important in answering the question of whether maxillofacial prosthodontics is appropriately prepared to contribute effectively to future multidisciplinary care of the head and neck.

Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to gain insight into the perception of changes experienced by maxillofacial prosthodontists in relation to clinical practice.

3D Volume Rendering and 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing).

Three-dimensional (3D) volume-rendered images allow 3D insight into the anatomy, facilitating surgical treatment planning and teaching. 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and rapid prototyping techniques are being used with satisfactory accuracy, mostly for diagnosis and surgical planning, followed by direct manufacture of implantable devices. The major limitation is the time and money spent generating 3D objects.

Complete-arch accuracy of intraoral scanners.

Statement Of Problem: Intraoral scanners have shown varied results in complete-arch applications.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the complete-arch accuracy of 4 intraoral scanners based on trueness and precision measurements compared with a known reference (trueness) and with each other (precision).

Material And Methods: Four intraoral scanners were evaluated: CEREC Bluecam, CEREC Omnicam, TRIOS Color, and Carestream CS 3500.

Accuracy of rapid prototype models for head and neck reconstruction.

Statement Of Problem: Rapid prototype (RP) models are used in craniofacial reconstructions; however, there are no standards or acceptable limits to ensure accuracy of the fabricated models.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of RP models by validating the accuracy of SLA skull models with a coordinate measurement device.

Material And Methods: Stainless steel spheres were located on a dry cadaver skull as fiducial markers, scanned with Multi Detector Computer Tomography (MDCT), and interpreted with software for rapid prototyping.