Use of 3D printing techniques in mandibular reconstruction. A brief review

Abstract

In recent years, technology and medicine have been able to complement each other to optimize time, knowledge and resources, increasing the possibility of personalized treatments in more patients. At the maxillofacial level, the reconstruction of mandibular defects has seen the need to progress its techniques due to the series of origins that drastically affect the mandibular bone, such as traumatic injuries, cancer, infections, congenital disease or others, and the innumerable both aesthetic and functional consequences, significantly restricting the quality of life. The objective of this article is to review basic concepts of the use of 3D printing technologies in mandibular reconstruction. 3D printing has appeared in various fields, being in the area of medicine, a fundamental contribution to the creation of high-precision anatomical shapes with which objects with reproduction of details can be designed quickly, after a series of steps which include obtaining a radiographic image, use of software and file repair, and obtaining a three-dimensional model. The latest studies have validated the use of 3D impressions for mandibular reconstruction, with clear benefits in cost and quality of details. It is necessary to create a focus on the surgical techniques used with a three-dimensional printed object and a post-operative analysis of the patients undergoing these procedures beyond the technical details.