Traditional face-bow transfer versus three-dimensional virtual reconstruction in orthognathic surgery

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Surgical Planning

Background:

• Face-bow transfer is crucial for articulator-based orthognathic surgery planning.
• This traditional method can introduce significant inaccuracies.
• Virtual planning utilizes 3D imaging to bypass these errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the three-dimensional error of face-bow transfer.
• To correlate this error with various malocclusion types.
• To compare traditional versus virtual surgical planning methods.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 38 patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.
• Surgery planned twice: once with traditional face-bow transfer and plaster models, and again using computer-based 3D imaging software.
• Digitized models compared based on the angle between the Frankfort horizontal plane and the occlusal plane.

Main Results:

• The angle between Frankfort horizontal and occlusal planes was typically larger in articulator-based models (sagittal dimension).
• Transverse dimension representation varied, with under- and over-representation occurring equally.
• Malocclusion type (skeletal class, vertical relationship, asymmetry) did not significantly influence face-bow transfer error.

Conclusions:

• Computer-based orthognathic surgery planning presents a more advantageous alternative to traditional methods.
• Virtual planning minimizes errors associated with face-bow transfer.
• This approach enhances accuracy in surgical planning for complex dental and facial discrepancies.