Cancer surgery, malformation or trauma may cause broad maxillary defects which can lead to functional deficits and enormous psychological strain and require rehabilitation in early stage. Prosthetic treatment can effectively prevent postoperative scar contracture and improve the degree of oral function. But it is difficult to obtain an accurate impression for a patient just accepting an operation. The development of rapid prototyping technology（ RPT） makes this aspiration a reality. In this paper, the principles and benefits of RPT and its related clinical applications are reviewed.
