Virtual Surgical Planning for Intraoperative Efficiency and Accuracy With Orthognathic Surgery

Virtual surgical planning is rapidly becoming the standard for correction of complex dentofacial deformities. Computer aided computer simulation provides tremendous preoperative insight into the dental and skeletal movements anticipated, osteotomy orientation and positioning, and accurately transfers the virtual plan to the operating room. The virtual planning may provide a smoother intraoperative experience with adjunctive resources such as cutting guides, jigs to assist in segment orientation and a template for bone grafting contours. The accuracy of virtual surgical planning with 30 patients using an intraoral fiducial and digital transfer of DICOM data (Charlotte Method - Medical Modeling) will be reviewed (submitted to JOMS 11/2013). The efficiency offered by computer aided surgical simulation can return hours to the surgeon day through a more streamlined presurgical workup, smoother intraoperative experience, confidence in the surgical accuracy that can in turn be devoted to other professional or personal obligations.