Finite element analysis and clinical application of 3D-printed Ti alloy implant for the reconstruction of mandibular defects.

Background: The reconstruction of segmental defect of the mandible has always been a challenge. The customized reconstruction plate without a bone graft is also considered a transitional means of rehabilitation and reconstruction in some cases.

Methods: This study evaluated the biomechanical behaviors of customized plates with different structural designs comparing with commercial plates using the finite element method in reconstrution of the lateral mandible defect.

Finite element analysis of 3D-printed personalized titanium plates for mandibular angle fracture.

This paper discussed the size of 3 D-printed personalized titanium plates that can gain maximum stability of mandibular fracture and minimize stress shielding through finite element analysis. A 3 D virtual model of mandible with mandibular angle fracture was created from the CT data of patient. 3 D-printed personalized titanium plates varying in length and thickness were designed, and finite element analysis was performed under different loading conditions and fracture healing periods.

A Regularization Homotopy Strategy for the Constrained Parameter Inversion of Partial Differential Equations.

The main difficulty posed by the parameter inversion of partial differential equations lies in the presence of numerous local minima in the cost function. Inversion fails to converge to the global minimum point unless the initial estimate is close to the exact solution. Constraints can improve the convergence of the method, but ordinary iterative methods will still become trapped in local minima if the initial guess is far away from the exact solution.

Hard Tissue Preservation and Recovery in Minimally Invasive Alveolar Surgery Using Three-Dimensional Printing Guide Plate.

Background: For completely impacted teeth, it is of great significance to locate teeth accurately, preserve hard tissue and recovering the height of alveolar ridge. This can be effectively solved by the digital three-dimensional printing guide technology.

Methods: Ten patients with completely impacted tooth were selected in this experiment.

A study on biosafety of HAP ceramic prepared by SLA-3D printing technology directly.

Hydroxyapatite powder was mixed into photosensitive resin to form complex shape scaffold using SLA-3D printing technology, and then the final entity was obtained successively by debinding and sintering. It is crucial to confirm whether the prepared hydroxyapatite scaffold have the toxic effects after our designed printing, debinding, and sintering processes because the photosensitive resin in the starting printing paste is poisonous to cells. To investigate these issues in details, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in vitro cytotoxicity test, and implantation pre-experiment in the rabbit parietal were performed, aiming to develop the SLA-3D prepared hydroxyapatite scaffold.

Application of Three-Dimensional Printing Technology for Improved Orbital-Maxillary-Zygomatic Reconstruction.

The reconstruction of orbital-maxillary-zygomatic complex (OMZC) on patients suffering from trauma and space-occupying lesions is challenging due to the irregularity of craniomaxillofacial bones. To overcome the challenge in precise OMZC reconstruction, individual three-dimensional (3D) disease models and mirror-imaged 3D reconstruction models were printed on the basis of the computer tomography. Preoperative planning by rehearsing surgical procedures was made on the 3D disease models and the scaffolds including titanium and absorbable meshes or plates were anatomically premolded using the mirror-imaged 3D models as guide.

Endoscope-assisted resection of nonneoplastic space-occupying lesion in oral and maxillofacial areas.

Endoscope-assisted oral and maxillofacial surgeries have been applied to the resection of tumors with minimal invasion and good cosmetic outcomes. However, with regard to endoscope-assisted resection of nonneoplastic space-occupying lesion (NSOL) in oral and maxillofacial areas which differ from tumors in treatment, there are no systematic reports. Therefore the advantages and limitations of the endoscopy-assisted approach (EAA) in resection of NSOL remain unclear.