Sustainable applications of augmented and virtual reality technologies in maxillofacial prosthetics toward eco-friendly medical solutions: A narrative review

Maxillofacial prosthesis enable persons with face abnormalities caused by trauma, birth defects, or cancer surgery get their function and looks back.Oldfashioned ways are hard work and don't always get the job done well.Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are emerging technologies that might make it easier to see, plan, and customize prosthetic rehabilitation.This research examines the contemporary applications, technological underpinnings, therapeutic advantages, and obstacles associated with the use of augmented reality and virtual reality in the development and evaluation of maxillofacial prosthesis.A narrative literature study was performed using peer-reviewed papers from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, published from 2018 to 2025.Digital imaging, CAD/CAM procedures, virtual design, intraoperative visualization, and patient-centered outcomes are some of the most important topics.Most studies are small or descriptive, so clinical validation remains limited.AR and VR have significant potential to advance maxillofacial prosthodontics by enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and patient engagement, which contributes to environmental sustainability in maxillofacial prosthodontics by cutting down on material waste, cutting down on the need for repeated physical impressions, and cutting down on the energy used in laboratory fabrication.Digital prototyping and virtual simulation make it possible to have eco-friendly workflows that are in line with the ideas of sustainable healthcare.These technologies not only make things more accurate and improve patient satisfaction, but they also move us closer to eco-friendly medical solutions in prosthetic design and rehabilitation.Future efforts should focus on resolving infrastructure issues, increasing software compatibility, and collecting high-quality clinical data to promote broader implementation.