Silicone Facial Prosthesis: A Preliminary Report on Silicone Adhesion to Magnet

Abstract

Although a silicone facial prosthesis has many advantages, silicone's limited cementation with resin or metal has caused many maxillofacial reconstructive surgeons and prosthodontists concern regarding the use of silicone-based facial prostheses. This study demonstrates 1 representative silicone facial prosthesis patient with magnet cementation to silicone using plastic clay, which will be applied to various maxillofacial prosthesis strategies in the near future.

Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopic Analysis of an Extraorally Installed Implant in a Silicone Facial Prosthesis Patient

“…The patient previously received a silicone facial prosthesis with 6 magnetic implants and silicone base materials. 2 The patient reported excellent satisfaction for the facial prosthesis for 2 years of use. However, the patient complained a recent uncomfortable feeling around the orbital implants.…”

“…Recently, implant-supported magnet-retained silicone orbital prosthesis with reproducible major mold has shown excellent results for complex midfacial defects 1–3 . However, the overall success rate of facial implants are considered to be lower than those of placed in the alveolar bone 1 .…”

Implant-supported orbital prosthesis: a technical innovation of silicone fabrication

“…Orbital and oculofacial prostheses have been considered the most ideal and viable alternative reconstruction method compared with local flap repositioning or microvascular free-flap coverage [ 6 ]. Retention of orbital prosthesis has been achieved using adhesives, attachment to eyeglasses frames or straps, and, more recently, use of dental implants [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]. Three or four implants anchored into the zygomatic or temporal bony orbital rim can be used for reliable outcomes and often allow the patient to avoid radiation or magnetic interferences.…”

“…Among these biomaterials, silicone is the most adaptable to natural skin colors and textures. We have already addressed one of the weakest points of silicone, which is its inability to be cemented with metal components, using plastic clay resin [ 1 , 2 ]. Another disadvantage of silicone manipulation was integrated in these updated clinical results.…”

“…3 f). The main silicone elastomers (Smooth-Cast®; Smooth-On, Inc., Pennsylvania, USA), dimethyl siloxane polymers, and adhesive primers were used to create an effective bond between the silicone and the substructure [ 1 , 2 ]. We added a liquid silicone color component (Ecoflex TM 00-10®; Smooth-On, Inc., Pennsylvania, USA) to the main silicone elastomers to produce the basic skin shade based upon our many trial and error laboratory attempts (Fig.…”