From static to robotic: evolving navigation systems in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Medical Technology
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Navigation-assisted surgical systems have significantly advanced in oral and maxillofacial surgery over the last five years.
• Innovations focus on enhancing surgical precision, accuracy, and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in navigation technologies for oral and maxillofacial surgery.
• To cover applications in trauma, orthognathic, oncologic, and reconstructive procedures.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus).
• Articles published between 2019 and 2025 were identified using specific keywords and Boolean operators.

Main Results:

• Recent developments include dynamic navigation, augmented reality (AR), robot-assisted navigation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated systems.
• These technologies show potential for improved intraoperative accuracy, anatomical reconstruction, and surgical training.

Conclusions:

• Navigation-assisted surgery in oral and maxillofacial surgery reduces errors and improves efficiency.
• Emerging hybrid and AI-assisted platforms promise further advancements in precision and safety for complex interventions.