A NEW 3-DIMENSIONAL TREATMENT ALGORITHM FOR COMPLEX-SURFACES - APPLICATIONS IN SURGERY

Purpose: Recent advances in computer technology enable automatic recon struction of surface models using digitized contour lines and three-di mensional (3D) representation on a graphic terminal. This work was aim ed at obtaining 3D reconstruction of facial bones to help guide oral s urgery and complex dental implantology procedures. Material and Method s: The starting point was a computed tomographic examination. The limi ts of the cortical bone were automatically outlined and then digitized using a special computer program. The resulting data were then compil ed for computer-aided design (CAD) purposes, and a virtual 3D model of the bone was mathematically computed. This model was next transferred to a computer program that piloted a CAD/computer-aided manufacture ( CAM) machine that guided a laser stereolithography process. Results: T he early results of the use of 3D images, as well as solid models, for clinical and surgical purposes, indicate a high degree of reliability in morphologic diagnosis, determining the surgical procedure, and est ablishing the subsequent prognosis.