Background: The importance of early diagnosis of pediatric malocclusion and early intervention has been emphasized. Without use of radiation, 3D imaging holds the potential to be an alternative for evaluating facial features in school-aged populations. Methods: Students aged 9 and 10 years were recruited. We performed annual 3D stereophotogrammetry of the participants’ heads. A total of 37 recognizable anatomical landmarks were identified for linear, angular, and asymmetric analyses using the MATLAB program. Results: This study included 139 healthy Taiwanese children with a mean age of 9.13, of whom 74 had class I occlusion, 50 had class II malocclusion, and 15 had class III malocclusion. The class III group had lower soft-tissue convexity (p = 0.01) than the class II group. The boys with class II malocclusion had greater dimensions in the anteroposterior position of the mid-face (p = 0.024) at age 10. Overall asymmetry showed no significance (p > 0.05). Heat maps of the 3D models exhibited asymmetry in the mid-face of the class II group and in the lower face of the class III group. Conclusion: Various types of malocclusion exhibited distinct facial traits in preadolescents. Those with class II malocclusion had a protruded maxilla and convex facial profile, whereas those with class III malocclusion had a less convex facial profile. Asymmetry was noted in facial areas with relatively prominent soft-tissue features among different malocclusion types.

Background: Although the human body generally exhibits bilateral symmetry, achieving perfect symmetry is exceedingly uncommon. During preadolescent development, a face that approximates symmetry is considered both aesthetically and functionally ideal. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between craniofacial traits and hand predominance, using three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry to discern whether facial soft-tissue characteristics are correlated with hand preference. Materials and Methods: The study involved children aged 9 and 10 years who were free from any diagnosed craniofacial anomalies. Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry was conducted to analyze their facial morphology, and 37 distinct anatomical landmarks were manually identified using a MATLAB-developed program. Results: A total of 188 Taiwanese children participated in the study. All participants were healthy, with a mean age of 9.79 years. Among them, 93.1% (175) were right-hand predominant, and 6.9% (13) were left-hand predominant. There were no significant differences in linear parameters or facial asymmetry between right-hand-predominant and left-hand-predominant participants (p > 0.05). However, a consistent trend toward right laterality, especially in the right lateral frontal region of the cranium, was observed, as illustrated by heat maps of the average three-dimensional model. Conclusions: The study found no association between facial morphology and hand predominance. A normal asymmetry with a rightward tendency was noted in children aged 9 to 10 years, which was particularly notable in the lateral frontal region of the head.

Introduction The Chang Gung Forum has been dedicated to the care of craniofacial anomalies since 2000. This annual continuing medical education program focuses on orofacial cleft and surgery-first orthognathic surgery by providing up-to-date information and management guidelines. This study explored how the Chang Gung Forum has influenced medical perspectives, decisions, and practices in a multidisciplinary craniofacial team. Methods Between 2000 and 2022, 20 Chang Gung Forums have been held. A questionnaire was distributed among 170 attendees who had participated in the forum more than once. The questionnaire collected information on the participants' experiences and levels of satisfaction with the educational program and whether or how it had influenced their clinical practice. Results Valid responses from 86 attendees (response rate, 50.6%) who had participated more than once were collected and analyzed. The overall satisfaction rate of the Chang Gung Forum based on the respondents' most recent visits was 4.28 ± 0.63 out of 5. Of the respondents, 90.9% acknowledged changes in their clinical practice, with modifications in surgery plans and decisions being the most notable (48.5%). In addition, comprehension increased throughout years of attending the annual forum (P < 0.001). Conclusion The Chang Gung Forum has contributed markedly to the community of congenital craniofacial anomalies. The program will continue providing updated information and influencing the clinical decision-making of health care professionals.