Assessing three-dimensional soft tissue changes and the prediction of hard tissue changes after orthognathic surgery with a novel digital workflow

To investigate the application of three-dimensional hard and soft tissue virtual surgical planning in orthognathic surgery using a novel digital workflow, we prospectively included twenty-one consecutively treated patients from two private oral surgery practices. Soft tissue facial scans were acquired using the Artec Space Spider, and intra-oral scans were obtained at one month before (T0), and at two (T1) and six months (T2) post-surgery. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were collected at T0 and T1. Serial three-dimensional soft and hard tissue changes were assessed by superimposing the scans in Geomagic Control X. Achieved hard tissue changes were compared to pre-surgical predictions. Differences in soft and hard tissue changes between patients treated with fixed appliances versus Invisalign® were also analyzed. The Artec Space Spider proved to be a reliable component of a novel digital workflow for virtual surgical planning, demonstrating repeatability and reproducibility. Clinically significant soft tissue relapse was observed in both the maxillary and mandibular regions between T1 and T2. Predicted surgical movements for hard tissue landmarks showed high accuracy, and soft-to-hard tissue change ratios at T1 aligned with two-dimensional data reported in the literature. No significant differences in soft or hard tissue changes were found between fixed appliances and Invisalign®. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing surgical planning and improving clinical outcomes for both clinicians and patients.