New developments in: three-dimensional planning for orthognathic surgery

The limitations of plain film radiographs are well documented and the recent introduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging has been a breakthrough in enabling three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the bony skeleton and dentition. There are many reported applications for CBCT in the field of orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery, including the localization of impacted teeth and implant site assessment. More recently, by augmenting CBCT volumes of the maxilla, mandible and dentition, a virtual 3D patient can be created, which can allow planning of orthognathic surgery entirely in 3D. A commercially available software package for 3D orthognathic planning (Maxilim(R), Medicim NV, Belgium) is independently reviewed, familiarizing the reader with the technique for creating a virtual 3D patient, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the software and concluding on the feasibility of its routine use in clinical practice.