Publications by authors named "Amel Aswehlee"
Advanced digital technologies have rapidly been integrated into prosthodontics to improve the digital workflow for prosthetic rehabilitation. The integration of 3D datasets acquired from various imaging sources such as intraoral scanners and facial optical scanners allows the creation of virtual patients to perform presurgical simulation and prosthetic rehabilitation. The presented technique introduced a straightforward protocol for aligning intraoral scans (Trios 4, 3Shape) to optical face scans (Face Hunter, Zirkonzahn) using a global best-fit algorithm of 3D evaluation software (GOM Inspect).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine the optimal level of mesh reduction that would maintain acceptable levels of geometrical trueness while also minimizing the impact on other parameters such as file size and processing time.
Methods: Intraoral and extraoral maxillofacial defects were created on 8 cadaver heads and scanned by using a CBCT scanner (NewTom 3D Imaging, Verona). DICOM data were segmented to produce head (n=8) and skull models (n=8) saved as standard tessellation language (STL) files.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of triangular mesh reduction on the trueness of digitized complete-arch dentate and edentulous maxillectomy defects models.
Material And Methods: Twenty gypsum maxillectomy defect models (dentate and edentulous group: n = 10) were digitized using the Trios 3 intraoral scanner, scanning the teeth, mucosa and maxillectomy defect. These datasets (reference, R) were saved as standard tessellation language (STL) files, and triangular mesh reduction was performed using the Meshmixer reduction tool.
Purpose: To introduce an augmented reality (AR) application for students, patients, and practitioners to use to visualize a maxillectomy defect, the associated obturator prosthesis, and the eventual effects on the patient's facial appearance.
Materials And Methods: Various 3D virtual models related to maxillectomy defects and their prosthetic rehabilitations were used to illustrate the handheld AR application. The AR "scene" was created using Vuforia and Unity3D software.
Purpose: This study sought to geometrically evaluate the effect of a mandibular prosthesis on facial asymmetry in patients with one of two different types of mandibulectomy defect.
Methods: Facial data from 20 participants (9 men and 11 women; mean age 68 years) with either a reconstructed segmental defect (segmental group,n = 10) or a marginal mandibulectomy defect (marginal group, n =10) were acquired with a non-contact three-dimensional (3D) digitizer. Facial asymmetry was evaluated by superimposing a facial scan onto its mirror scan using 3D evaluation software.
An appropriate presentation of maxillofacial defects and their prosthetic rehabilitation concepts using traditional two-dimensional educational materials is challenging for dental students and prosthodontics residents. This technique article introduces a simple approach to visualize and communicate three-dimensional (3D) virtual models embedded into a portable document format (PDF) file for presenting maxillofacial prosthetics concepts and enhancing students' spatial ability when learning maxillofacial prosthetics. MeVisLab software was used to combine various maxillofacial models and save them as a single 3D model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the accuracy of a smartphone application as a low-cost approach for digitizing a facial defect for 3D modeling.
Materials And Methods: A stone model of a facial defect was scanned using industrial computed tomography (reference scan) and was also scanned five times using a commercial laser scanner. A series of 24 sequenced digital photographs was taken five times by smartphone at two elevations.
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.
Purpose: To evaluate the precision and trueness of computerized optical impressions of maxillectomy defects.
Materials And Methods: Three different maxillectomy defect models based on the Aramany classification system were used. Reference digitization of the models was performed with an industrial computerized tomography scanner.
Purpose: To identify trends in the application of various types of digital technologies in maxillofacial prosthetics by identifying these digital technologies and their characteristics and reviewing the prevalence of applied digital technologies and their recent trends in the maxillofacial prosthetics literature.
Materials And Methods: Five leading peer-reviewed prosthodontics journals were manually searched for maxillofacial prosthetics articles on the use of digital technologies published from January 2008 to December 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data collected on productivity, type of digital technology used, type of article, type of defect, number of authors, and geographic distribution.
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of noncontact three-dimensional (3D) digitization systems for capturing facial defects.
Materials And Methods: A stone model of a facial defect was digitized using high-accuracy industrial computed tomography as a reference scan. The model was also scanned using four different types of noncontact 3D digitizers: a laser beam light-sectioning technology with camera system and three different stereophotogrammetry systems.
Purpose: This study aimed (1) to geometrically evaluate areas of facial asymmetry in patients with two different types of maxillectomy defect compared to a control group, (2) to geometrically evaluate the effect of an obturator prosthesis on facial asymmetry, and (3) to investigate the correlation between three-dimensional (3D) deviation values and number of missing teeth.
Materials And Methods: Facial data from 13 normal control participants and 26 participants with two types of maxillectomy defect (groups 1 and 2) were acquired with a noncontact 3D digitizer. Facial asymmetry was evaluated by superimposing a facial scan onto its mirror scan using 3D evaluation software.
Although digital technology has advanced the visualization of treatment planning and rehabilitation in prosthodontics, the field of maxillofacial prosthetics is in vital need of an accessible document for exchange of interactive three-dimensional (3D) model visualization without requiring installation of any additional software. This article introduces a 3D data documentation method for effective interactive digital visualization in maxillofacial prosthetics using a portable documentation format (PDF).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Accurate evaluation of speech characteristics through formant frequency measurement is important for proper speech rehabilitation in patients after maxillectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of digital acoustic analysis and vowel pentagon space for the prediction of speech ability after maxillectomy, by comparing the acoustic characteristics of vowel articulation in three classes of maxillectomy defects.
Materials And Methods: Aramany's classifications I, II, and IV were used to group 27 male patients after maxillectomy.
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.
This case report describes the reproduction of the current obturator of a frail elderly patient using the digitization concept. A computed tomography scanner was used to scan the obturator. The virtual model was created using three-dimensional modeling software.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis report describes the postmaxillectomy prosthetic rehabilitation of a child with maxillary chondrosarcoma over an 8-year period. Specifically, it (1) describes the planning and rehabilitation procedures carried out during the period from before the operation to the time when the patient started elementary school and (2) reports the results of evaluations of the patient's oral and psychosocial function conducted during the school phase. The prosthetic treatment plan was separated into two phases (the preschool and school phases) and was started prior to surgery, when an immediate surgical obturator was designed by the surgeons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study aimed to create a digitized database of fabricated obturators to be kept for patients' potential emergency needs.
Materials And Methods: A chairside intraoral scanner was used to scan the surfaces of an acrylic resin obturator. The scanned data was recorded and saved as a single standard tessellation language file using a three-dimensional modeling software.