They became also a strong tool in the treatment planning (simulation), with virtual patient becoming a reality. With merging cone beam CT, 3D facial and intraoral scan we are able to create virtual (digital) patient with all possibilities to make exact diagnosis and treatment plan. To transfer this plan to real world we need different templates, custom implants, etc. At this point, the process can be completed with additive technologies, which offers a new possibilities and some advantages over traditional methods.
In addition to clinical usefulness of the 3D methods they have also a big role in research area. The cross-sectional studies on normal population and populations with different dental and skeletal deformities, evaluation of different surgical techniques are more and more based on 3D method, such as cone-beam CT and 3D photography. A lot of these studies are transferred to the clinical work at the end. |