Subjective evaluation of profile prediction using video imaging.

Video imaging has become a popular tool for predicting soft tissue profiles. However, it is important not to create false expectations with its use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical acceptability of video imaging for the prediction of soft tissue changes in mandibular advancement orthognathic surgery, and thus, to determine its suitability for patient presentation, education, and subsequent treatment planning. Simulated mandibular advancements were performed on 30 patients (21 women and 9 men) using the Dentofacial Planner Plus v1.5 software program. Two separate panels consisting of 25 laypersons and 25 dental professionals (17 orthodontists and 8 oral and maxillofacial surgeons) compared prediction images to actual posttreatment images. Overall profile predictions were found to be clinically acceptable by orthodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons in 87.8% of the cases and by laypersons in 95.6% of the cases. No significant differences were found among the individual facial regions graded by the dental professional panel. The results of this study suggest that video imaging is an acceptable tool for profile prediction.