Assessment of anatomical balance alterations following orthognathic surgery based on the FAB concept

Abstract

Historically, the origin of the term orthognathic surgery which initially referred solely to surgical procedures involving the mandible can be traced back to the mid-19th century in the United States. This historical evolution laid the groundwork for the integration of orthognathic surgery into multidisciplinary treatment protocols, linking skeletal correction with dental alignment and, later, with facial aesthetics and airway functionality. Furthermore, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies now enable the fabrication of custom surgical guides, osteotomy splints, and patient-specific fixation plates, significantly increasing intraoperative accuracy and reducing operative time. In this study, virtual surgical planning was used to evaluate and calculate the volume of specific anatomical structures of interest in a group of 20 patients. The patients were divided into 2 study groups based on the type of dento-maxillary anomaly. Anatomical structures were evaluated before surgery and at 4 weeks postoperative. The results obtained provide valuable insight into the volumetric evolution of the oral cavity among the patients included in the study. On average, the oral cavity volume increased by 10.8% in Class II patients and 6.1% in Class III patients. Considering the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that, contrary to initial hypotheses, anatomical balance underwent statistically significant changes, characterized by a decrease in values across both patient groups.