Digital 3D scanning is a shared advantage of both thermoplastic and 3D-printed fabrication workflows. By replacing traditional plaster casting, scanning keeps your baby clean and comfortable during skull measurements, reduces anxiety, and significantly shortens appointment time. The resulting digital model provides an accurate baseline of your child's head shape — making it far easier to track progress and measure change at each follow-up visit, regardless of which helmet fabrication method your clinician recommends.
Fabrication timelines and costs can vary depending on the workflow, manufacturer, and clinical setting involved. In some cases, digital fabrication workflows, whether thermoplastic or 3D-printed may offer time and cost advantages over traditional plaster-based methods by reducing material handling and labor. However, these factors differ across providers and devices, and cost should be considered alongside clinical appropriateness when your care team is determining the right approach for your child.
Because your baby's head shape is captured and stored as a digital file, your care team can easily compare new scans to earlier ones to measure change over time — a benefit shared by both thermoplastic and 3D-printed fabrication workflows. For children fitted with 3D-printed helmets specifically, the existing digital file also means that if a helmet is damaged or a replacement is needed due to rapid growth, a new device can often be produced without scheduling a new scanning session.
Some 3D-printed helmets are fabricated using bio-based or sustainably sourced polymers — materials derived from renewable resources rather than traditional petroleum-based plastics. When clinically appropriate options include these materials, they can support a lower carbon footprint without compromising the mechanical strength required for effective treatment.
At Lawall Prosthetics and Orthotics, your child’s well-being is our highest priority. We do more than just provide orthoses; we are beside you throughout the entirety of the process, from the initial consultation and 3D scanning to the final adjustments.
Our team embraces evidence-based care and cutting-edge technology to ensure optimal outcomes. We leverage our extensive network of expertise to fit your baby with the most appropriate, comfortable, and effective cranial remolding orthosis available.
Most infants wear a cranial remolding orthosis for 23 hours a day over a period of 9 to 14 weeks. The exact duration depends on the severity of the initial deformity and the age at which treatment begins.
3D-printed helmets can offer real advantages — including lighter weight, improved breathability, and the precision and convenience of a fully digital workflow. However, they are not the right choice for every child. Thermoplastic helmets fabricated from either a plaster cast or a digital scan are also well-established options that may be equally appropriate, or better suited, depending on your baby’s individual presentation and your clinician’s assessment. The best helmet is the one that matches your child’s specific clinical needs and that determination should always rest with your care team.
Coverage for cranial remolding orthoses varies widely depending on your specific insurance provider and policy. You are welcome to contact Lawall Prosthetics and Orthotics directly, and we can help guide you through the verification process — or you can reach out to your insurance company to confirm coverage for treating deformational plagiocephaly or brachycephaly.
Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled every 3 to 4 weeks. During these visits, we will assess your baby’s progress, take new measurements, and make any necessary adjustments to the helmet’s internal padding to accommodate head growth.
a significant policy change went into effect on January 25, 2026. Medicare updated its Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for knee orthoses. This expansion removed major barriers to care, making it easier for individuals with osteoarthritis to access the bracing technology they need.
Knee pain can be a significant hurdle in daily life, transforming simple tasks like walking the dog or climbing stairs into daunting challenges. Whether stemming from a sports injury, osteoarthritis, or general wear and tear, the discomfort can feel limiting.
The sound of sneakers hitting pavement, the splash of water against a swimmer’s body, the satisfying crack of a golf ball meeting the sweet spot—these moments of athletic achievement aren’t limited by limb difference. Athletes with prosthetics are redefining what’s possible in sports, proving that determination combined with innovative technology can overcome any barrier.
Technological advancement has continued to explode as the decades pass, with something new and exciting growing weekly. The field of prosthetics has not been immune to these improvements, either, seeing significant advancements that improve not only the accessibility of prosthetics but also their capability and safety.
The future is brighter with the right orthotic solution. If you’re ready to explore how these advanced orthotic devices may improve your mobility and quality of life, click here to read more.
Technological advancement has continued to explode as the decades pass, with something new and exciting growing weekly. The field of prosthetics has not been immune to these improvements, either, seeing significant advancements that improve not only the accessibility of prosthetics but also their capability and safety.
