Contribution of 3D printing for the surgical management of jaws cysts and benign tumors: a systematic review of the literature

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing is now a widely recognized surgical tool in oral and maxillofacial surgery. However, little is known about its benefits for the surgical management of benign maxillary and mandibular tumors and cysts.

Purpose: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the contribution of 3D printing in the management of benign jaw lesions.

Methods: A systematic review, registered in PROSPERO, was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases, up to December 2022, by following PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting 3D printing applications for the surgical management of benign jaw lesions were considered.

Results: This review included thirteen studies involving 74 patients. The principal use of 3D printing was to produce anatomical models, intraoperative surgical guides, or both, allowing for the successful removal of maxillary and mandibular lesions. The greatest reported benefits of printed models were the visualization of the lesion and its anatomical relationships to anticipate intraoperative risks. Surgical guides were designed as drilling locating guides or osteotomy cutting guides and contributed to decreasing operating time and improving the accuracy of the surgery.

Conclusion: Using 3D printing technologies to manage benign jaw lesions results in less invasive procedures by facilitating precise osteotomies, reducing operating times, and complications. More studies with higher levels of evidence are needed to confirm our results.