Ahead of Print
3D Morphometric Comparison between Two Different Facial Scanning Systems: An In vivo Study
Authors: Aravind S Kumar, Havisha Nookala, Ramasamy Navaneethan
DOI: 10.18231/j.jco.7564.1758973324
Keywords: facially-driven orthodontics, CBCT, face scan, smart-phone based sensors, Bellus 3D
Abstract: Background: Soft tissue analysis is the crux in surgical treatment planning. With notable advancements in AI and augmented reality and a paradigm shift to digital dentistry, it is of paramount importance to check the reproducibility of different scanners for a best-fit alignment. This study aims to compare and assess the reliability of two facial scanning systems. Aim: To compare morphometric 3D measurements obtained from facial scans by Kodak CareStream CS 9600 and Bellus 3D face scan. Material and Methods: Facial scans were obtained from 20 Indian subjects aged 18-35 years via CareStream CS facial scanner and Bellus 3D facial scanning app. Nine linear facial morphometric parameters were measured, compared, and analyzed using MeshLab software developed by ISTI (Italian National Research Council) in Rome, Italy. These measurements were subsequently superimposed using the same MeshLab software. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using IBM SPSS software. Independent paired t-tests were employed to investigate inter-group comparisons, Intra-Class Coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate measurement reproducibility, and Kappa statistics were utilized to assess intra-observer reliability. Results: There was no significant difference in any of the linear 3D morphometric measurements between the groups, suggesting that both Bellus 3D and CareStream facial scans showed good and comparable scanning accuracy (p value > 0.05). The ICC score between the readings were all above 0.80, corresponding to excellent reproducibility of the measurements. A kappa statistic of 0.78, used to assess intra-observer reliability, indicated a strong level of agreement between the readings. Conclusion: The conclusion drawn from the results of this study was that the accuracy of 3D images obtained from Carestream and Bellus3D exhibited strong and similar scanning repeatability.