Evidence mapPaperPMID 41826787Full record

ReviewOral and maxillofacial surgery2026

Three-dimensional facial scanning in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a scoping review of clinical applications, accuracy, and outcomes.

Ömer Uranbey, Suat Aktaş, Merve Nur Cennetoğlu, Hasan Şeker, Burcu Gürsoytrak, Kamil Nelke

Abstract readScoping ReviewReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Oral and maxillofacial surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ömer UranbeyDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Hasanefendi St. No:40, Efeler, Aydın, 09100, Turkey. eomeruranbey@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0628-2419
Suat AktaşDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Hasanefendi St. No:40, Efeler, Aydın, 09100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1553-9609
Merve Nur CennetoğluDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Hasanefendi St. No:40, Efeler, Aydın, 09100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-2998-495X
Hasan ŞekerDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Hasanefendi St. No:40, Efeler, Aydın, 09100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-3241-4138
Burcu GürsoytrakDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Hasanefendi St. No:40, Efeler, Aydın, 09100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9893-0649
Kamil NelkeHealth Department, Angelus Silesius Academy of Applied Sciences in Wałbrzych, Zamkowa 4, Wałbrzych, 58-300, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4215-0798

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeQuantitative assessment of facial morphology is fundamental for diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome monitoring in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Three-dimensional (3D) facial imaging technologies offer superior reliability and reproducibility compared to conventional two-dimensional (2D) methods. This scoping review synthesizes current evidence on 3D facial scanning applications in maxillofacial surgery, evaluating diagnostic accuracy, monitoring performance, reproducibility, and clinical feasibility.

methodsSearches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Twenty clinical studies met the inclusion criteria and underwent methodological quality assessment using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist.

resultsStereophotogrammetry was the predominant imaging modality (70% of studies), frequently combined with cone-beam computed tomography. Primary clinical applications included orthognathic surgery with facial asymmetry assessment (50% of studies), evaluation of postoperative edema and swelling following third molar extraction and bimaxillary procedures, facial palsy reanimation, and treatment of cleft-related deformities. Three-dimensional scanning demonstrated high reliability and reproducibility in quantifying soft-tissue changes, symmetry indices, and dynamic facial mobility, with significantly greater precision than 2D photography. Multimodal approaches integrating 3D surface scans with skeletal imaging provided complementary outcome measures. Eighteen of 20 studies demonstrated low risk of bias. However, substantial heterogeneity in scanning devices, post-processing software, and analytical protocols limited cross-study comparisons.

conclusionsThree-dimensional facial scanning offers accurate and clinically useful soft-tissue assessment, surpassing 2D methods and enhancing radiographic imaging. Broader integration requires standardized protocols, robust comparative trials, and evaluation of cost-effectiveness.

Indexed as

FaceImaging, Three-DimensionalOral Surgical ProceduresCone-Beam Computed TomographyHumansPhotogrammetryReproducibility of ResultsFacial analysisFacial morphologyFacial scanningStereophotogrammetryThree dimensional imaging

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.