VSP and 3D Printing in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Corrective jaw surgery, commonly known as orthognathic surgery, is a procedure that reshapes the jawbone to properly align the upper and lower jaws. Misaligned jaws can significantly impact your bite, making eating and speaking difficult, while also affecting the overall appearance of your face. This surgery not only improves functionality but also enhances facial aesthetics, helping to achieve better symmetry and boosting self-confidence.

There are many reasons why someone might need jaw surgery. These include conditions such as broken jaws, cleft lip and palate, jaw cancer, cysts or tumors in the jaw, and malocclusion (including overbite, overjet, or underbite). Additionally, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), prognathism (when one or both jaws protrude), and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can also require surgical intervention to improve both health and appearance.

Orthognathic surgeries are becoming increasingly popular, particularly for treating malocclusion with a significant skeletal component. This rise is largely driven by a growing emphasis on both dental and facial aesthetics, especially among females. As a result, the outcomes of these procedures are becoming more predictable, with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

Curious about how technology is transforming surgery? Let’s explore the future of personalized care. Research consistently highlights the significant benefits of incorporating Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) and 3D printing into orthognathic and oral maxillofacial surgeries. These cutting-edge technologies provide healthcare professionals with unmatched precision and improve surgical planning, while also giving patients a clearer, more active role in their treatment journey. Let us show you the precise benefits these innovations bring.

• Better Visualisation and Planning:

Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) empowers surgeons to create a 3D virtual model of a patient’s anatomy using CT or MRI scans. This model can be rotated and analyzed from multiple angles, offering a comprehensive view of the key anatomical structures. With this level of detail, surgeons can precisely plan the procedure, pre-bend plates and meshes, simulate various surgical approaches, and foresee potential challenges—ensuring a more confident and informed approach before entering the operating room.

• Enhanced Accuracy and Precision:

Surgical guides created through 3D printing and Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) software serve as precise templates, helping surgeons accurately position implants, perform osteotomies, and execute other surgical procedures. Research has shown that these guides significantly enhance the accuracy of bone cuts, implant placement, and overall surgical success. For instance, in orthognathic surgery, using 3D-printed guides has been proven to improve the precision of maxillary impaction and minimize differences between planned and actual surgical results.

• Reduced Operating Room Time:

The precise planning and guided execution facilitated by VSP and 3D printing lead to a more efficient surgical workflow. Surgeons can perform procedures more quickly and with less intraoperative decision-making. Several studies reported significant reductions in operating room time when using cutting guides and pre-bent plates planned through VSP. For instance; A study on mandibular reconstruction using 3D printed guides reported an average operating room time reduction of 1.5 hours compared to traditional methods.

• Patient Empowerment and Satisfaction:

3D-printed anatomical models offer patients a physical representation of their condition and the planned surgical procedure, improving their understanding and facilitating informed consent. Research indicates that these models enhance patient satisfaction and boost confidence in the treatment plan. For example, in a study on orthognathic surgery, patients who were presented with 3D models of their anticipated facial changes reported greater satisfaction with the surgical results compared to those who viewed only 2D images.

• Personalized Treatment Solutions:

With VSP and 3D printing, patient-specific implants, guides, and splints can be created to match each individual’s unique anatomy. This tailored approach enhances treatment outcomes and often results in quicker recovery times. For instance, in cases of mandibular defects, a custom titanium implant with a lingual plate can be designed and 3D printed, eliminating the need for bone defect filling and reducing the likelihood of complications.

As we explore further, let’s gain a better understanding of single jaw and double jaw surgery.

In single jaw surgery, which typically involves the correction of the upper or lower jaw, VSP and 3D printing allow surgeons to virtually model the patient’s jaw anatomy based on advanced imaging like CT or MRI scans. By creating a 3D representation of the jaw, surgeons can simulate surgical movements, predict the outcome, and even test different approaches before making any incisions. VSP enables precise calculations for the repositioning of the jaw, helping to avoid complications and ensuring optimal results. The use of 3D printing takes this further by creating custom surgical guides and pre-contoured plates that streamline the procedure, reducing surgery time and enhancing recovery.

Double Jaw Surgery, which involves both the upper and lower jaw, requires even greater precision due to the complexity of coordinating movements in both areas of the face. Integrating VSP allows for a detailed, comprehensive surgical plan where both jaws can be assessed in relation to one another, optimizing the alignment and bite. Surgeons can simulate the full surgical procedure, identifying the best course of action and reducing the risk of errors. The 3D printing technology complements this by creating custom templates that guide the positioning of both jaws, ensuring accurate cuts and repositioning during surgery. These 3D-printed guides are tailored to the unique anatomy of each patient, which can significantly reduce operating time and improve post-surgical outcomes.

The Benefits for Both Single and Double Jaw Surgeries:

Both single and double jaw surgeries benefit from the transparency and precision that VSP and 3D printing offer. These technologies allow patients to visualize their own anatomy and see simulations of the planned procedure, fostering better understanding and trust in the surgical process.

In a Nutshell:

Orthognathic surgery is the only effective solution for correcting conditions that nonsurgical treatments cannot address, such as altering the jaw’s shape or position. While braces can reposition teeth, they cannot move the jaw itself. Although jaw surgery is complex, it allows for changes to the skeletal structure of the mouth. The procedure has a high success rate of about 93.9%, and most patients experience a notable improvement in their quality of life after surgery. Also the advancement in technologies offer numerous benefits for both patients and medical professionals, leading to improved surgical outcomes, enhanced patient experience, and the potential for long-term cost savings. Continued research and development, along with the establishment of clear guidelines and ethical frameworks, will further refine these technologies and expand their applications in the future.