Orthognathic virtual treatment planning for functional esthetic results

Virtual three dimensional (3D) facial diagnosis and treatment planning has the potential to improve outcomes for orthognathic surgery patients. It is necessary to appreciate the inadequacies of traditional two dimensional treatment planning and how that may adversely affect the virtual 3D treatment planning process. Virtual 3D planning greatly improves the clinician's ability to diagnose and treat facial form and position problems that prevent the patient from accomplishing the three Functional Facial Keys (eating, breathing and communicating). It also enhances facial-skeletal orientation, maxillary and mandibular positioning, correction of asymmetries and occlusal plane management. This article presents a systematic approach to treat functional facial problems using virtual 3D treatment planning for consistent esthetic facial results. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.