[Digital image processing in orthodontics]

Digital image processing is an exciting and rapidly evolving technology that has become available for orthodontic purposes because of the constantly increasing speed and power of desktop computers, their peripherals and storage systems. This paper describes the typical hardware and some of the technical features and limitations of digital image processing in general. A critical review of its major applications in the field of orthodontics (i.e. growth and surgical prediction) reveals that the accuracy of the digital techniques is less than ideal, although image manipulation is faster and easter. Given the scientific limitations of contemporary digital image software, its major strength rather lies in its ability to improve patient communication.