BACKGROUND The assessment of the dimensions and arrangement of facial soft tissues is important for plastic surgeons, orthodontist, and orthognathic maxillofacial surgeon evaluations. All require quantitative data about the soft tissue that complement the evaluation of hard-tissue relations. Various techniques for 3D reconstruction of the face have been used in diagnosis, treatment planning, and simulation. Advances in computer hardware and software now enable interactive display of the data on personal computers, with the ability to selectively view soft tissue from any angle and allow the clinicians navigate away from the limitations of conventional photographs. Therefore, in order to assess facial changes that occur as a result of orthognathic surgery, this study purposed analyze the three-dimensional (3D) laser surface scanning images pre- and post-operative. METHODS The subject's facial surface are routinely scanned by Minolta Vivid700 (Minolta, Ramsey, NJ, USA) from top to bottom with a projected class 2 laser stripe immediately before and two months after orthognathic surgery. 360º 3D images are created with the help of computer software (Polygon Editing Tools, Minolta Co). Cartesian coordinates (x, y, and z) from facial landmarks can be identified with the surface distance between them calculated using computer software (Launch Geomagic Studio 9, Geomagic Inc). The same software can be used to construct axial images of the head and to measure the area and volume of the head and face. RESULTS The results have confirmed that the laser scanning system used to capture facial morphology before and after orthognathic surgery provides additional information of the surface shape and the 3D superimposition reveals major soft tissue changes in the lower face. CONCLUSIONS The soft tissues changes of Class II and Class III malocclusions can be better understood and the routine use of 3D photographs for maxillofacial diagnosis, treatment planning, and assessment might not be very far away.
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