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A 3-dimensional method for analyzing the morphology of patients with maxillofacial deformities
Masahiko Terajima1, Akihiko Nakasima, Yoshimitsu Aoki
1Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. terajima@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Introduction:
Traditionally, cephalograms have been used to evaluate a patient's maxillofacial skeleton and facial soft-tissue morphology. However, magnification and distortion of the cephalograms make detailed morphologic analysis difficult in patients with complex deformities. The purpose of this article was to introduce a new method for visualizing deformation and deviation of the maxillofacial skeleton and facial soft tissues.
Methods:
Standard 3-dimensional Japanese head models were sized to match the sella-to-nasion distance obtained from 2 patients' (1 man, 1 woman) maxillofacial skeletal images. Then, the scaled standard model was superimposed on each patient's 3-dimensional computed tomography image.
Results:
This system provided clear shape information independent of size and facilitated the visualization of shape variations in maxillofacial skeletal and facial soft-tissue morphology.
Conclusions:
This method will be useful for 3-dimensional morphologic analysis of patients with jaw deformities.
