A digital workflow for fabricating a mandibular guide plane prosthesis for patients about to undergo...

Patients who undergo hemimandibulectomy have multiple functional impairments, and early initiation of guidance therapy has been associated with an improved definitive occlusal relationship. This article describes a digital workflow to determine the angle and form the shape of the flange of the mandibular guide plane prosthesis (MGPP), and to create an MGPP before mandibular resection surgery. A virtual articulator was used to achieve the movements of the maxilla relative to the mandible, and the shape of the MGPP was adjusted by dynamic occlusion. The MGPP and mandibular case were printed using a digital light processing (DLP) printer. This technique avoids intraoral procedures such as making impression and tooth preparation when mouth opening is limited after surgery and enables early functional training.