Digital Craniofacial and Orthognathic Surgery

Soft tissue characteristics and clinical evaluation are very important in aesthetic evaluation. Facial and skeletal structures should be evaluated objectively and quantitatively in order to present treatment goals accurately and reliably and to examine treatment results comparatively. In the treatment of malocclusions that require orthognathic surgery, the most critical part of the orthognathic surgery procedure is to establish the correct diagnosis and treatment plan and to transfer it to the surgical environment. Three-dimensional computer-aided surgical planning techniques for craniofacial deformities introduced in the early 2000s enabled the detailed analysis of deformities in three dimensions, the simulation of surgical movements, and the production of splints to be used during surgery with three dimension printers. Computer technology has certainly enhanced the ability of the clinician to deliver a more precise treatment outcome, reduce risk, and achieve better outcomes. Virtual surgical planning (VSP) improves the efficiency of the presurgical work-up and provides an opportunity to illustrate the multidimensional correction at the dental and skeletal level. By this way it has greatly enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of orthognathic surgery for correction of dentofacial deformities. Because of all these advances, VSP is rapidly becoming the standard of care for surgical treatment planning of dentofacial deformities. In this section, the clinical and digital workflow in the three dimension virtual surgical planning procedure will be explained in detail.