Advancements in Craniofacial Practices: Imaging, AI, Surgery, and Patient Care

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the evolving landscape of craniofacial healthcare, exploring innovations across imaging, artificial intelligence, surgical techniques, and patient-centered care. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the practices that are driving advances in diagnosis, treatment, and holistic patient management. Key themes include the following:

1. Imaging Innovations: Advances in craniofacial imaging technologies, such as radiological imaging, 3D photogrammetry, 4D stereophotogrammetry, CBCT, and multimodal approaches, as well as their integration into diagnostic and surgical workflows.
2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: The role of AI in automating craniofacial image analysis, improving diagnostic accuracy, predicting outcomes, and supporting clinical decision-making.
3. Surgical Advances: Cutting-edge surgical techniques, including minimally invasive methods, 3D-printed implants, personalized surgical planning, and the use of robotics in craniofacial reconstruction.
4. Patient-Centered Care: Approaches that emphasize comprehensive patient management, including interdisciplinary collaboration between surgeons, orthodontists, and allied healthcare professionals, as well as considerations for quality of life, functional outcomes, and psychological support.
5. Precision Medicine and Personalized Treatment: How modern craniofacial practices are leveraging precision medicine to develop individualized treatment plans that address the unique anatomical, genetic, and clinical characteristics of patients.
6. Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: The growing role of telehealth in craniofacial care, facilitating remote consultations and follow-up care and expanding access to specialized services in underserved populations.
7. Future Challenges and Opportunities: Identifying ongoing challenges in craniofacial healthcare, including the incorporation of new technologies, regulatory considerations, addressing healthcare disparities, and future directions for research and clinical practice.

Dr. Rami R. Hallac
Guest Editor

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