Three-Dimensional Virtual Treatment Planning: Presurgical Evaluation

Objective: This article describes a virtual protocol designed to optimize surgical orthodontic diagnosis and treatment plan. Methods: A total of 15 patients undergoing orthodontic-surgical treatment have been analyzed with a presurgical virtual three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning, which involves 9 steps. All the patients have been treated with the use of occlusal splint guides projected on the basis of the surgical and orthodontic visualized treatment objective. Results: In all the analyzed patients, a precise and optimal orthodontic presurgical preparation has been obtained. Conclusions: The 3D analysis seems more precise to interpret than two-dimensional; it provides information and images of craniofacial structures free from perspective distortion and it reduces the steps of the presurgical diagnosis. The simplicity of the protocol described in this paper makes possible to apply it in everyday practice. The study described here allows high-precision planning of orthodontic-surgical therapy and optimization of each treatment phase, with consequent advantages in clinical practice: a more accurate orthognathic surgery with predictable results.