Virtual Surgical Planning for Patients with Skeletal-Dental and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

The integration of virtual surgical planning (VSP) for the treatment of skeletal, dental, and facial abnormalities and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with maxillofacial surgery has catapulted surgical planning. Although reported for treating skeletal-dental abnormalities and dental implant surgery, a paucity of knowledge existed reporting the feasibility and resultant outcome measures when VSP was employed for planning maxillary and mandibular surgery for OSA patients. The surgery-first approach is at the forefront of advancing maxillofacial surgery. Case series reporting success with the surgery-first approach for patients with skeletal-dental and sleep apnea patients have been reported. In sleep apnea patients, clinically significant reductions in apnea-hypopnea index and improvement of low oxyhemoglobin saturation have been achieved. More so, significant improvement in the posterior airway space at the occlusal and mandibular planes were achieved, while preserving aesthetic norms as measured by tooth to lip measurements. VSP is a feasible tool used for predicting surgical outcome measures in maxillomandibular advancement surgery for patients with skeletal, dental, facial, and OSA derangements.