Three-dimensional models in maxillofacial surgery

Background: Orientation in space is of cardinal importance in surgery. In presurgical preparation surgeons make use of various virtual three-dimensional simulations, and since the beginning of 1990's physical 3-d models made by a rapid prototyping technique have been employed. Conclusions: At the Clinical Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana physical threedimensional models have been used since the beginning of 2007. We have done 120 virtual and 45 physical models, for the most demanding traumatological and oncological reconstructions. In this article, two cases of their usage are introduced.