A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON CAD/CAM TECHNOLOGIES IN DENTAL ECTOPROSTHETICS

The rapid development of digital technologies has significantly transformed maxillofacial orthopedic dentistry,particularly in the field of facial ectoprosthetics. This article reviews contemporary approaches to the fabrication offacial prostheses with a focus on CAD/CAM technologies and their integration into clinical and laboratory workflows.The study analyzes traditional impression-based techniques and compares them with computerized digital methods,highlighting differences in accuracy, efficiency, patient comfort, and reproducibility. Special attention is given to moderndata acquisition techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, laser surface scanning, andthree-dimensional photography, as well as to digital modeling, rapid prototyping, and additive manufacturing methods.The results demonstrate that CAD/CAM-based ectoprosthetic fabrication improves predictability, reduces treatmenttime, enhances patient safety, and allows long-term digital archiving of prosthetic data. Despite these advantages,the study emphasizes that successful clinical outcomes depend on professional expertise, correct method selection,and interdisciplinary collaboration. CAD/CAM technologies are therefore considered not as a replacement for clinicaljudgment, but as an advanced tool that significantly augments modern facial prosthetic rehabilitation