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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Treatment of Facial Deformities using 3D Planning and Printing of Patient-Specific Implants
Published on: May 23, 2020
Three-dimensional treatment planning of orthognathic surgery in the era of virtual imaging
Gwen R J Swennen1, Wouter Mollemans, Filip Schutyser
1Department of Surgery, General Hospital St-Jan Bruges, Bruges, Belgium. gwen.swennen@azbrugge.be
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.

