From Sophistication to Simplicity: Affordable Digital Innovations in Orthognathic Surgery.

Orthognathic surgery has progressed from traditional plaster model surgery, through hybrid computer-assisted planning, to today’s fully digital workflows. 

At our department, we have developed a streamlined digital workflow that combines several software platforms with in-house production. This enables us to perform smart and efficient virtual planning, along with accurate fabrication of splints, guides, and patient-specific implants. 

The approach significantly reduces costs and saves valuable time, allowing us to optimize both financial and time resources. By conducting the entire process in-house, we also provide residents and junior staff with hands-on training and independence from external engineers, consultants, or technicians. Moreover, full control over planning and production timelines ensures flexibility and efficiency in surgical preparation. 

This lecture will review the transition from sophistication to simplicity, comparing advanced and affordable digital strategies, and will present practical insights from our own experience. Clinical examples and different workflows will be shared to illustrate how digital orthognathic surgery can be made more accessible, adaptable, and beneficial for a broader patient population.