A 3-dimensional method for analyzing facial soft-tissue morphology of patients with jaw deformities.
BACKGROUND
Traditional cephalometric radiographs can analyze facial soft-tissues 2 dimensionally. Because they cannot provide information about the nose, lips, cheeks, and mouth, another method is needed to analyze these soft tissues. We introduce a new method for analyzing the 3-dimensional (3D) shape and size of facial soft-tissue morphology.


METHODS
A 3D average face model was constructed based on 3D computed tomography images of Japanese male and female adult volunteers who had well-balanced faces and normal occlusions. To test the feasibility of evaluating the quantitative effects of surgery, preoperative and postoperative 3D computed tomography images of facial soft tissues of 1 man and 1 woman were superimposed on the average faces.


RESULTS
This quantitative assessment provided a comprehensive evaluation of the characteristics that separate size and shape. It was possible to view the superimposed images from any desired angle on a personal computer.


CONCLUSIONS
This method provides easy-to-understand information for patients and appears to be useful for clinical diagnosis and pretreatment and posttreatment soft-tissue morphologic evaluations of patients with jaw deformities.
Terajima
Masahiko
M
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. terajima@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Furuichi
Yoshihide
Y
Aoki
Yoshimitsu
Y
Goto
Tazuko K
TK
Tokumori
Kenji
K
Nakasima
Akihiko
A
D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005145:Face; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007569:Jaw Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D011378:Prognathism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods