3D Imaging for Craniomaxillofacial Applications in Orthognathic and Facial Surgery Planning

Abstract

From an anatomical and functional perspective, the human face is a complex part of the human body, which can be divided into three main groups of structures, namely soft tissue (e.g. skin, connective tissue and muscles), hard tissue (e.g. mandible, maxilla, orbitae and zygomata) and dentition (e.g. incisors, canines, premolars and molars). This triad plays a decisive role and in documentation and asessment of craniofacial problems, treatment planning and prediction of surgical outcome in patients with facial deformities and finally also as an objective tool in treatment evaluation. Accurate image acquisition en 3D image fusion of all three structure groups is crusial.