Comparison of the accuracy of the three-dimensional virtual method and the conventional manual method for model surgery and intermediate wafer fabrication

ObjectiveThe aim was to compare the accuracy of 3-dimensional virtual (3D-VMS) and conventional manual methods (MMS) for model surgery and intermediate wafer (IW) fabrication.Study designTwenty-five patients were divided according to presence or absence of anteroposterior movement (groups 1 and 2, respectively) and canting correction (groups 3 and 4, respectively) of the maxilla. After MMS and 3D-VMS, conventional IW and 3D virtual IW (3D-VIW) were fabricated. Additional maxillary casts were mounted on the articulator using these IWs and 3D positions, and the 3D positions were statistically analyzed.ResultsIn model surgery, although 3D-VMS was more accurate than MMS, the errors of both methods were less than 1 mm in all groups. In wafer fabrication, vertical change only was significant in groups 1, 2, and 3. Model surgery and wafer fabrication methods did not show significant differences in accuracy.ConclusionThree-dimensional VMS was more accurate than MMS. However, the accuracy of 3D-VIW fabrication needs to be improved.