Assessment of anatomical balance in dento-facial anomalies using virtual surgical planning

Abstract

Dento-maxillary anomalies are defined as growth and developmental disorders of the dental arches, jaws, as well as facial soft tissues. Most studies highlight the significance of combining orthodontic treatment with orthognathic surgery, as it remains the only widely used approach worldwide that enables the correction of these anomalies through surgical interventions on the dental arches and/or maxillary bones, leading to a substantial improvement in quality of life. Virtual surgical planning offers the capability to simulate a wide range of surgical techniques, providing a more precise and predictable approach to treatment. The anatomical balance of the oral cavity refers to the harmonious relationship among the various anatomical structures that comprise the stomatognathic system. In this study, virtual surgical planning was used to evaluate and calculate the volume of specific anatomical structures of interest in a group of 90 patients. The patients were divided into 3 study groups based on the type of dento-maxillary anomaly. In total, 28 males and 62 females were included in this study, with an average age of 28.13 years). Given the observed differences in oral cavity volume, with Class III patients exhibiting a larger volume and Class II patients a smaller one, while anatomic balance remains stable across all groups, it is plausible that this reflects an adaptive compensatory mechanism of the body. Considering the limitations of the current study, the findings suggest that, contrary to the general belief, anatomic balance is not directly influenced by the dento-maxillary anomalies.