Planning the Aesthetics of the Mandibular Angles in Orthognathic Surgery: Traditional vs. Virtual 3D Articulators

The surgical correction of dento-maxillofacial deformities for aesthetic reasons is increasingly required. In order to obtain the results that our patients expect, it is necessary to very thoroughly evaluate every aesthetic detail of the face, because an optimal result comes from the correction of all parameters. The region of the mandibular angles is very important in determining the final aesthetics but is at the same time difficult to predict. Traditional programming based on model surgery is inadequate in this regard compared to that based on CT (Computed Tomography) reconstruction. The authors explain the reasons for this and demonstrate the problems by reporting a typical clinical case.