title: [A study on the stability and reliability of 3D laser cranio-maxillofacial reconstruction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the stability and the reliability of the first 3D laser cranio-maxillofacial reconstruction system in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The same 3D laser scan image of a head plaster model was measured twice three weeks before and after. That head cast was also scanned and reconstructed twice three weeks before and after, and then the 3D images were measured. To the same head cast we compared the laser measurement with the direct manual measurement. The statistical analysis of measurements was made using the paired t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between two sets of measurements on the same image (P > 0.05). The difference in the measurements was not significant between two reconstructed images of the same model (P > 0.05). And there was also no significant difference between the measurements by laser and by hand (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recognition of the author to the 3D laser scan image is reliable. The laser scanning system has a good stability and reliability and can be used in clinical study preliminary.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Dental Computing, Ministry of Health, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peijun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*