Biomaterial Database

Extra-oral prosthetics: past and present. 1994

J M van Doorne

Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Special Dental Care Research Group, Utrecht University Hospital, The Netherlands.

The field of maxillofacial prosthetics is concerned with the prosthetic reconstruction of missing head and neck tissue. A prosthetic replacement of an exterior part is termed an epithesis. Beautiful examples of such prostheses were described as early as the 17th century. Often these defects were caused by war traumas or accidents. Currently, facial prostheses are usually applied in cases of defects caused by the surgical removal of tumors or congenital defects. Retention of devices has always been problematic. The contributions that implants can make to solve these problems are discussed by examining some cases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008447	Maxillofacial Prosthesis	A prosthetic appliance for the replacement of areas of the maxilla, mandible, and face, missing as a result of deformity, disease, injury, or surgery. When the prosthesis replaces portions of the mandible only, it is referred to as MANDIBULAR PROSTHESIS.	Maxillary Prosthesis,Maxillary Prostheses,Maxillofacial Prostheses,Prostheses, Maxillary,Prostheses, Maxillofacial,Prosthesis, Maxillary,Prosthesis, Maxillofacial
D009666	Nose	A part of the upper respiratory tract. It contains the organ of SMELL. The term includes the external nose, the nasal cavity, and the PARANASAL SINUSES.	External Nose,External Noses,Nose, External,Noses,Noses, External
D009915	Orbit	Bony cavity that holds the eyeball and its associated tissues and appendages.	Eye Socket,Eye Sockets,Orbits,Socket, Eye,Sockets, Eye
D004431	Ear, External	The outer part of the hearing system of the body. It includes the shell-like EAR AURICLE which collects sound, and the EXTERNAL EAR CANAL, the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE, and the EXTERNAL EAR CARTILAGES.	External Ear,Outer Ear,Ear, Outer,Ears, External,Ears, Outer,External Ears,Outer Ears
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D019736	Prostheses and Implants	Artificial substitutes for body parts, and materials inserted into tissue for functional, cosmetic, or therapeutic purposes. Prostheses can be functional, as in the case of artificial arms and legs, or cosmetic, as in the case of an artificial eye. Implants, all surgically inserted or grafted into the body, tend to be used therapeutically. IMPLANTS, EXPERIMENTAL is available for those used experimentally.	Implants, Artificial,Prostheses and Implant,Prosthesis,Prosthetic Implant,Endoprostheses,Endoprosthesis,Prostheses,Prosthetic Implants,Artificial Implant,Artificial Implants,Implant and Prostheses,Implant, Artificial,Implant, Prosthetic,Implants and Prostheses,Implants, Prosthetic