Preoperative Planning and Simulation in Patients With Cleft Palate Using Intraoral Three-Dimensional Scanning and Printing

Background: In cleft palate, surgery is necessary for recovering important functions of the normal palate, such as speech and feeding. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) scanning program with an intraoral scanner was used to evaluate the palate status of patients with cleft palate before palatoplasty. Further, a 3D cleft palate printed model of the patients' palate using 3D printing technology was produced. Methods: Three patients with cleft palate were included (1 male and 2 female patients with a mean age of 13 months). Extended scanning from the maxillary arch to the soft palate was conducted, without any direct contact of the scanner with the tissues of the palatal area. The maxillary arch dimensions and cleft size of the scanned data were measured using a 3D analysis software. After all 3D analyses, the scanned data were printed to a 3D cleft model, which was used as a training and simulation model. Results: The overall contour and size of the cleft were observed on the scanned 3D images. There was a large inter-individual range in the cleft dimensions among the subjects. Double-opposing Z-plasty was then simulated on the printed 3D cleft palate model completely. Conclusions: The present study concentrated on the possibility of an intraoral scanner as a novel diagnostic tool for recording data of patients with cleft palate; 3D cleft palate models created using 3D printers can be used as training models for surgical trainees.