Soft tissue changes after orthodontic surgical correction of jaws asymmetry evaluated by three-dimensional surface scanner

: Aesthetic improvement is an essential goal of treatment of facial asymmetry and it is often difficult to achieve. Reliable three-dimensional (3D) measurements are required to support outcome studies. In this study, 15 Caucasian adult subject, 9 females and 6 males, with maxillomandibular asymmetry and malocclusion were studied. The patients were treated with orthodontics and different surgical procedures in single or multiple steps. All patients received double jaw surgery, except one patient who underwent only maxillary osteotomy. Nine out of the 15 patients received additional procedures (genioplasty and rynoplasty) to achieve better symmetry. Posterior-anterior and lateral cephalometry and 3D facial surface data were obtained before (T0) and one year (T1) after surgery. Scan data at T0 and T1 were pooled by electronic surface averaging to obtain the mean pre- and post-treatment facial model. A symmetric model was constructed by averaging the actual T0 scans and their mirrored models to obtain the virtual optimal symmetric face. Different linear and angular measurements were then calculated for comparison of the mean We “Soft tissue changes after orthodontic-surgical correction of jaws asymmetry evaluated by 3D surface laser scanner” The present prospective study performed a 3D analysis of the soft tissue changes after surgical treatment of facial asymmetry in order to assess the amount of correction achieved. This study showed the benefits of 3D face analysis systems in investigating the effects of orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatment of the facial asymmetry and that the 3D laser scanning technology is able to investigate even small post-treatment changes. Orthognathic surgery can give an important improvement of the facial asymmetry. However, the improved possibility to evaluate in details the efficacy of treatment on the soft tissues disclosed some less than optimal outcomes. Precise correction of facial asimmetry still appears a challenging task in maxillofacial surgery, and further technical improvements are still possible. This paper is unpublished and it is not under current consideration Abstract Aesthetic improvement is an essential goal of treatment of facial asymmetry and it is often difficult to achieve. Reliable three-dimensional (3D) measurements are required to support outcome studies. In this study, 15 Caucasian adult subject, 9 females and 6 males, with maxillo-mandibular asymmetry and malocclusion were studied. The patients were treated with orthodontics and different surgical procedures in single or multiple steps. All patients received double jaw surgery, except one patient who underwent only maxillary osteotomy. Nine out of the 15 patients received additional procedures (genioplasty and rynoplasty) to achieve better symmetry. Posterior-anterior and lateral cephalometry and 3D facial surface data were obtained before (T0) and one year (T1) after surgery. Scan data at T0 and T1 were pooled by electronic surface averaging to obtain the mean pre- and post-treatment facial model. A symmetric model was constructed by averaging the actual T0 scans and their mirrored models to obtain the virtual optimal symmetric face. Different linear and angular measurements were then calculated for comparison of the mean T0 and T1 models. The normalization of facial proportion and a high increase of symmetry were evident. Residual defects were documented in the post-operative symmetry of the chin. Treatment of facial asymmetry, combined with dental occlusion problems, is still a challenge for maxillofacial surgeons. Orthognathic surgery provides an important improvement of symmetry, but further refinements of technique are still required. 3D evaluation results an effective method to support outcome studies on the surgical correction of complex facial deformities.