Digital Imaging/ Surgical Treatment Planning
We understand that undergoing orthodontics and orthognathic surgery to improve your facial and jaw function is a significant commitment. Patients always ask us how the proposed surgery will affect their facial appearance. With the use of the latest technology, we are able to show our patients the answer to that question.
First, the cephalometric radiograph (ceph) of the patient is digitized, and analyzed.
Then, a digital photograph of the patient is taken, and the facial contours are traced by the computer. The tracing of the underlying facial bones is superimposed on the patient's profile.
Next, the surgical treatment plan is simulated on the computer, and the results translated to the patient's photograph. In this case, the upper jaw (maxilla) was moved upward, and the lower jaw advanced forward.
This is the computer-predicted appearance of the patient's profile(left), compared with her actual appearance(right) one year after surgery.
|
