Digital Manufacturing of Ear Prostheses: A Scope Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36489/saudecoletiva.2025v16i101p17598-17617Keywords:
Ear Prosthesis, Additive Manufacturing, Digital Technologies, RehabilitationAbstract
This article presents a review of the scope of methodologies, technologies and results associated with the use of digital manufacturing in the production of ear prostheses, highlighting its transformative impact on auditory rehabilitation, as well as the current challenges and perspectives for the development and dissemination of this technology. For this, a scope review with 44 articles was conducted. The results demonstrated the transition to digital workflows, with the direct method being employed in 55% of the studies. This approach allowed the creation of more precise, efficient and low-cost prostheses, resulting in greater patient satisfaction. The transition to digital ear prosthesis production is a promising breakthrough that has the potential to overcome the challenges of conventional manufacturing. The evolution of scanning and 3D printing, development of open source software and the use of new materials will make processes more accessible and efficient.
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