Geometric Evaluation of the Effect of Prosthetic Rehabilitation on the Facial Appearance of Mandibulectomy Patients: A Preliminary Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to geometrically evaluate the effect of prosthetic rehabilitation on the facial appearance of mandibulectomy patients. Materials and Methods: Facial scans (with and without prostheses) were performed for 16 mandibulectomy patients using a noncontact three-dimensional (3D) digitizer, and 3D images were reconstructed with the corresponding software. The 3D datasets were geometrically evaluated and compared using 3D evaluation software. Results: The mean difference in absolute 3D deviations for full face scans was 382.2 μm. Conclusion: This method may be useful in evaluating the effect of conventional prostheses on the facial appearance of individuals with mandibulectomy defects.