Digital design and fabrication of customized mandible implant

Reconstruction of mandibular defects following severe trauma is one of the most challenging problems faced by today´s maxillofacial reconstructive surgeons. Mandible plays a major role in the support of dental and para-dental structures like mastication, articulation, deglutition and respiration. Segmental Mandibular resections without reconstruction result in deviation of the mandible towards the resected side due to the unopposed pull of the remaining muscles, loss of function and significant cosmetic defect. With the advancement of current medical imaging technology such as Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and other technologies such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Additive Manufacturing, it is possible to design geometrical models and visualize the anatomical structures to obtained required information fabricate customized implants for each patients. This article presents the results of an on-going project in mandiblular reconstruction using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) additive manufacturing technology for mandibular reconstruction and surgery.