A system for assessing mandibular outlines

It has been suggested that assessment of the outline of the face is useful for determining the effectiveness of treatment for mandibular asymmetry. Standardised frontal-view photographs of 11 patients were digitised and analysed using a newly-developed image analysis system. The face boundary outlines were compared using a number of metrics. Good repeatability was found when inter- and intra-observer studies were performed. Thus, this system may be of value in evaluating the effects of surgery.