하악골의 삼차원적, 기하형태학적 대칭성을 평가하기 위한 새로운 방법인 유사도 지수를 이용한 안면 비대칭 환자의 치험례

A Case Study of Facial Asymmetric Patients Using Similarity Index, a New Method for Evaluating Three-Dimensional and Geometric Morphological Symmetry of the Mandible

To evaluate the stereoscopically structural symmetry of the mandible, the landmark-based analyses that have been accustomed to two-dimensional images like lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms, even with three-dimensional (3D) cone-beam computed tomography, have definite limitations. The newly developed similarity index (SI) can make it easier to intuitively assess 3D mandibular asymmetry. An 18-year-old female with skeletal Class III and facial asymmetry underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. The total treatment time was 16 months including pre-and post-surgical orthodontic treatment. SI was used to evaluate the patient’s asymmetry of the mandible before and after surgery. The feasibility of SI could be validated in diagnosing the asymmetry before surgery and evaluating the residual asymmetry after surgery.