INDIVIDUAL MODEL FABRICATION IN MAXILLOFACIAL RADIOLOGY

Oral and maxillofacial surgery has long needed a methodology for accur ate definition of the third dimension. The introduction of computer-ai ded tomography in the 1970s provided surgeons with multiple 2-D maps w hich they themselves had to conceptualize into a third dimension. The later advent of computerized summation of these data made it possible to display a perspective view of the third dimension on a TV monitor. CT, and more recently MRI, with the further analytical refinement affo rded by software processing (interactive data presentation, contour de tection and summation, hypothetical 3-D construction and interactive v isualization) now provide the basic information that is needed for the fabrication of an individual model. Such models can be milled from a variety of materials. More recently, laser-hardened acrylic resins hav e been shown to be a useful alternative. Both systems are described an d their advantages and disadvantages in the planning and performance o f oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures are discussed.