Development of New Orthognathic Model Surgery Technique Based on the Reference Points onto the Teeth and the Use of Occlusal Index

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Errors in orthognathic model surgery occur during the planning, measuring and/or moving of the models. However, there has been little effort to find ways to reduce these errors. In this study, we introduce a new orthognathic model surgery technique (Yonsei method) which adopts the tooth point as the reference and the occlusal index as a moving vehicle for the model.METHODS: The technique consists mainly of 1) measuring the three-dimensional lengths of model points, 2) fabricating and moving the occlusal index and 3) verifying the movement. Then we compared the accuracy of the Yonsei method to conventional methods, with special reference made to influencing factors.RESULTS: Errors for the Yonsei method with the occlusal index were reduced to the range of 0.61~1.04 mm in three-dimension, providing a more accurate model surgery technique than conventional methods which have errors ranging from 0.77~3.11 mm.CONCLUSION: It provided us a more accurate model surgery technique based on the reference points onto the teeth and the use of occlusal index.