Three-Dimensional Treatment Planning of Orthognathic Surgery in the Era of Virtual Imaging

Swennen, Gwen R.J.; Mollemans, Wouter; Schutyser, Filip

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2009.06.007

« Previous Next »Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 67, Issue 10 , Pages 2080-2092, October 2009

Three-Dimensional Treatment Planning of Orthognathic Surgery in the Era of Virtual Imaging

Gwen R.J. Swennen, MD, LDS, DMD, PhD, FEBOMFS
- Private Practice, Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, General Hospital St-Jan Bruges, Bruges, Belgium, Associate Professor, Medical University Hannover, Hannover, Germany; and Co-Founder, 3D Facial Imaging Research Group, Bruges, Belgium
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Swennen: Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, General Hospital St-Jan Bruges, Ruddershove 10, Bruges 8000 Belgium
Wouter Mollemans, MSc, PhD
- Research Engineer, Medical Image Computing, University Hospital Gasthuisberg Faculties of Medicine and Engineering, Leuven, and Digital Dentistry of Medicim, Mechelen, Belgium
Filip Schutyser, MSc
- Global Solutions Manager, Digital Dentistry of Medicim, Mechelen, Belgium

Purpose

The aim of this report was to present an integrated 3-dimensional (3D) virtual approach toward cone-beam computed tomography-based treatment planning of orthognathic surgery in the clinical routine.

Materials and Methods

We have described the different stages of the workflow process for routine 3D virtual treatment planning of orthognathic surgery: 1) image acquisition for 3D virtual orthognathic surgery; 2) processing of acquired image data toward a 3D virtual augmented model of the patient's head; 3) 3D virtual diagnosis of the patient; 4) 3D virtual treatment planning of orthognathic surgery; 5) 3D virtual treatment planning communication; 6) 3D splint manufacturing; 7) 3D virtual treatment planning transfer to the operating room; and 8) 3D virtual treatment outcome evaluation.

Conclusions

The potential benefits and actual limits of an integrated 3D virtual approach for the treatment of the patient with a maxillofacial deformity are discussed comprehensively from our experience using 3D virtual treatment planning clinically.