The role of technology in facial prosthetics

Technology has the potential to transform the fabrication process of facial prosthetics. The purpose of this review is to highlight the pertinent technological advances in computerized shade selection, three-dimensional digital photography, virtual surgical planning, surface scanning, and three-dimensional imaging to obtain the wax pattern. There have been a few reported studies documenting the effect of computerized color formulations for facial prosthesis. The technology is still in its infancy and may serve as a tool to manage metamerism and to complement the subjective clinical assessment of the clinician. Three-dimensional photography, surface scanning, and three-dimensional imaging have been used successfully in the fabrication of facial prostheses. Software programs which allow the clinician to plan virtually implant placement allows the treatment planning process to be much more prosthetically driven. Even with the technological advances, it is perhaps most important to remember the basics of proper preparation of the defect to accept the prosthesis. The incorporation of technology into the fabrication process of facial prostheses can potentially transform the treatment process from a time-consuming artistically driven process to being a reconstructive biotechnology process.