Common Terminology

Aesthetic

Pleasing In Appearance

Abutment

A Titanium Implant Component That Extends From The Implant Fixture Through The Skin Surface In Order To Stabilize An External Prosthesis.

Anaplastologist

A Health Care Professional Educated And Trained In The Design, Fabrication And Management Of Custom-Made Facial, Ocular (Eye), And Somatic Prostheses That Demand A High Degree Of Realism Based On A Physician’s Order And Clinical Assessment.

Anaplastology

The Art And Science Of Replacing A Malformed Or Absent Part Of The Human Body Through Artificial Means.

Anotia

Absence Of The External Ear

Canal Atresia

Absence Of The External Ear Canal

Auricular

Referring To The External Ear (Auricle)

Auriculectomy

Surgical Removal Of The External Ear

Bilateral

Referring To Both Sides Of The Body

Bone Anchored Implant

A Titanium Fixture That Is Placed Into Bone And Used For The Support Of Prosthetic Devices Or Hearing Aids

CCA

Certified Clinical Anaplastologist Credentialed By The Board For Certification In Clinical Anaplastology (Link)

Congenital

Used To Describe A Condition Present At Birth

Cosmetic Surgery

Surgery Performed To Reshape Normal Structures Of The Body To Improve The Patient’s Appearance And Self-Esteem

Craniofacial

Related To Or Involving Both The Head And The Face

Digital

Pertaining To Finger Or Toe

Enucleation

Enucleation is the surgical removal of the globe of the eye that leaves the eye muscles, eyelids and remaining orbital contents intact.

Facial asymmetry

One side of the face appears different or smaller than the other.

Facial Prosthesis

An Artificial Substitute For Missing Or Disfigured Facial Anatomy That Restores Form And Function

Goldenhar Syndrome
Also Known As Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Sydrome

Goldenhar Syndrome is a condition that is present at birth and mainly affects the development of the eye, ear, and spine. Some of the key symptoms are facial asymmetry (one side of the face is different from the other), a partially formed ear (microtia) or totally absent ear (anotia), noncancerous (benign) growths of the eye (ocular dermoid cysts), and spinal abnormalities. 

Hemifacial Microsomia

Hemifacial microsomia  is a condition in which part of one side of the face is underdeveloped and does not grow normally. The patient’s eye, cheekbone, lower jaw, facial nerves, muscles, and neck may be affected.

Hemifacial Prosthesis

A prosthesis that artificially restores an extensive area of the face.  A Hemifacial prosthesis could include the eye, eyelids, eyebrow, part of or all of the nose and cheek.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)

Involves Breathing Pure Oxygen While In A Pressurized Chamber, Which Allows For A Greater Intake Of Oxygen And Promotes Healing In The Body. It Is Often Used To Treat Bone And Soft Tissue Damaged By Radiation Therapy.

Maxillofacial Prosthodontics

Is a dental subspecialty of Prosthodontics that involves rehabilitation of patients with defects or disabilities that were present when born or developed due to disease or trauma. Dental Prostheses are often needed to replace missing areas of bone, teeth and tissue in the mouth and surrounding anatomy and restore oral functions such as swallowing, speech, and chewing.

Microtia

A Condition Present At Birth That Describes An Underdeveloped External Ear

Midfacial

Relating To The Nose And Surrounding Anatomy

Nasal

Relating To The Nose

Ocular

Relating To The Globe Of The Eye Or Eyeball; Also Refers To An Eye Prosthesis

Ocular

Relating To The Globe Of The Eye Or Eyeball; Also Refers To An indwelling Eye Prosthesis made by an Ocularist

Orbital

Relating To The Round Cavity In Which The Eye Is Located; Also Refers To A Prosthesis That Replaces The Eye And Eyelids As Well As Other Surrounding Anatomy

Orbital Exenteration

The Surgical Removal Of The Entire Contents Of The Orbit: Eye; Eyelids; Muscles Of The Eye

Osseointegration

The biological process of bone growing around a surgically placed titanium implant.  The firm anchoring of an implant allows the implant to be an anchor for an external prosthetic device.

Prosthesis

A Device That Is An Artificial Substitute For Absent Or Disfigured Anatomy

Prosthetics

A Branch Of Medicine Dealing With The Design, Production, And Use Of Artificial Body Parts

Rhinectomy

Surgical Removal Of The Nose

Silicone

A Synthetic Rubber Material That Is Biocompatible

Somatic

Relating To Or Affecting Surface Of The Body

Titanium

A Corrosion Resistant Silvery Metallic Chemical Element Whose Strength, Light Weight, And Biocompatibility Make It The Ideal Material For Implantation Into The Human Body

Treacher Collins Syndrome

Treacher Collins syndrome is a congenital condition that affects the development of bones and other tissues of the face. Facial abnormalities include depressed cheek bones, defects of the eye, underdeveloped ears (microtia), and a very small jaw and chin (micrognathia).

Upper Facial Prosthesis

A prosthesis that artificially restores the anatomy of the upper face.  This prosthesis may include a combination of the eye, eyelids, eyebrow, cheeks and forehead.