Anthropometric Comparison of 3-Dimensional Facial Scan Taken With a Low-Cost Facial Scanner With Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Scan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 3-dimensional (3D) facial scans taken with a low-cost facial scanner compared with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five patients had their CBCT scan and 3D facial scan taken on the same day. Facial scans were taken with a low-cost facial scanner (Bellus3D, ARC-1 scanner) in an upright position. The facial scans were imported into Invivo5 software and were integrated with the corresponding CBCT scans. Then, 16 soft tissue landmarks were identified on the CBCT scans and the 3D-integrated facial scans. The 6 vertical, 7 horizontal, 10 oblique linear, and 11 angular anthropometric measurements were obtained and compared between the CBCT scans and 3D-integrated facial scans using paired t test and Bland-Altman plots.

Results: The differences between CBCT scans and 3D-integrated facial scans showed no statistical significance except for 2 vertical measurements. Bland-Altman plots showed that all anthropometric measurements were within the limit of agreement. The differences between CBCT scans and 3D-integrated facial scans were <1.5 mm or 1.5 degrees except for 2 vertical measurements.

Conclusions: Three-dimensional facial scans taken with facial scanner showed a clinical acceptance when compared with CBCT scans.