Geometric Evaluation of the Effect of Prosthetic Rehabilitation on Facial Asymmetry in Mandibulectomy Patients.

PURPOSE: To geometrically evaluate facial asymmetry in patients with mandibulectomy defects with and without their mandibular prostheses in place and to compare the results to a nonpatient group.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Facial data from a convenience sample of 16 patients with mandibulectomy defects and a control group of 16 nonpatients were acquired using a noncontact 3D digitizer. Facial asymmetry was evaluated by superimposing a facial scan onto its mirror scan for each patient's 3D dataset using 3D evaluation software.

RESULTS

Facial asymmetry was significantly different between mandibulectomy patients and control participants. As expected, asymmetry was significantly different in mandibulectomy patients with and without their prostheses.

CONCLUSION

Wearing a mandibular prosthesis notably improved facial asymmetry.