Management of facial asymmetry assisted with digitally designed surgical guide for 3-dimensional maxillary repositioning: A case report

Int Orthod. 2024 Dec 12;23(1):100953. doi: 10.1016/j.ortho.2024.100953. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Orthodontists play a pivotal role in diagnosing, planning, and preparing patients for orthognathic surgeries. Digital technologies like cephalometry, intraoral scans, CBCT scans, CAD-CAM-assisted 3-D planning, and printed surgical splints, have largely replaced conventional techniques. The automated software produces surgical splints with a design similar to conventional which may not address complex scenarios, involving symmetric and asymmetric maxillary impaction. To address this, a surgical splint designed using 3D dolphin software was modified with 3-matic software for precise guidance. This article gives insight into the digitally designed surgical splint for the correction of facial asymmetry on skeletal Class III bases and occlusal canting in an 18-year-old woman. The precise relocation of the maxilla was achieved as planned pre-surgically leading to significant improvement in the facial aesthetics. In conclusion, modified splint design fabrication offers more predictable outcomes, reduces laborious laboratory procedures, and acts as a reliable guide for precise surgical results.

Keywords: CAD; Facial asymmetry; Orthognathic surgery; Three-dimensional printing; Virtual planning..

Publication types

  • Case Reports