Preoperative Planning and Simulation in Patients With Cleft Palate Using Intraoral Three-Dimensional Scanning and...

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial Surgery
• Digital Dentistry
• Medical Modeling

Background:

• Cleft palate significantly impacts speech and feeding functions, necessitating surgical intervention.
• Traditional methods for assessing cleft palate anatomy can be invasive and time-consuming.
• Advancements in 3D scanning and printing offer new possibilities for patient evaluation and surgical preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of an intraoral scanner for capturing detailed 3D data of cleft palates prior to surgery.
• To assess the feasibility of creating patient-specific 3D printed models from intraoral scans.
• To explore the application of these 3D models in surgical training and simulation.

Main Methods:

• Three infants (1 male, 2 female; mean age 13 months) with cleft palate underwent non-contact intraoral scanning.
• 3D analysis software was used to measure maxillary arch dimensions and cleft size from the scan data.
• 3D printed models of the palates were generated for surgical simulation and training purposes.

Main Results:

• Intraoral scanning successfully captured the overall contour and size of the cleft palate.
• Significant inter-individual variability in cleft dimensions was observed.
• Surgical simulation, specifically double-opposing Z-plasty, was effectively performed on the 3D printed models.

Conclusions:

• Intraoral scanners show promise as a novel diagnostic tool for recording cleft palate data.
• 3D printed cleft palate models are effective for surgical training and simulation.
• This technology can enhance pre-surgical planning and improve surgical outcomes for cleft palate patients.