Applications of Three-Dimensional Technology in Health Care Sciences

Dear Colleagues,

The use of three-dimensional techniques in health care sciences is expanding exponentially, and has offered unique possibilities to clinicians and researchers.

In radiology, the introduction of cone-beam CT imaging has laid the foundation for three-dimensional diagnosis in patients where the use of conventional CT technology cannot be justified due to the high costs and the increased radiation exposure. For example, this is relevant to patients undergoing orthognathic surgery, patients receiving orthodontic treatment, patients in need of dental implants, and many more.

Three-dimensional scanners have allowed clinicians to record the anatomy of osseous and soft-tissue structures in order to potentially perform treatment simulations using specific software. Furthermore, three-dimensional printing has improved the manufacturing process, and thus the efficiency of custom-made medical/dental devices or other products that can be used for clinical applications.

Advancements in three-dimensional technology have also influenced the photographic assessment of faces. In health care sciences, where evaluations of the soft-tissue facial structures and of the patients’ appearance are fundamental for diagnosis and outcome assessment, the use of three-dimensional photography and facial scanning provide a superior solution compared to the standard two-dimensional photographs, because they allow facial analyses in three dimensions. This is also true in social sciences, where traits such as facial attractiveness and facial expressions are studied.   

Within this scope, I am pleased to invite you to submit your work to this Special Issue of Applied Sciences, focusing on the use of three-dimensional technology in health care.

This Special Issue aims to highlight articles that introduce new applications of three-dimensional technologies, assess the reliability of current three-dimensional methods, or compare two- to three-dimensional tools for patient diagnosis and outcome assessment. Preferably, submitted articles should be of specific interest for medical and dental specialists, and for specialists in psychosocial sciences.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

- Orthodontics
- General Dentistry
- Radiology
- Orthognathic Surgery
- Dental Implantology
- Prosthetic Dentistry
- Endodontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Biomedical Engineering

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Georgios Kanavakis
Guest Editor

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