Data Acquisition Requirements

• Coverage: Full cranium from the skull vertex down to the C7 vertebra. Medical-grade CT is preferred for its superior soft-tissue contrast and reduced geometric distortion. CBCT is accepted provided coverage is sufficient.
• Voxel size: ≤ 0.3 mm recommended; ≤ 0.4 mm acceptable minimum. Larger voxel sizes compromise landmark precision and will result in rejection.
• File format: Full DICOM series required. Do not export as JPEG, PNG, or any reconstructed single-file format. All slices of the raw scan must be included.
• Patient positioning: Teeth in maximum intercuspation at time of acquisition. No bite registration or deprogrammer in the mouth. Frankfort horizontal plane parallel to the floor where possible.
• Artefact reduction: Remove removable metal appliances (retainers, bite plates) prior to scanning where clinically safe. Notify CranioPlan if fixed metalwork is present.
• Compression: No lossy compression. Archive the DICOM folder and transfer via WeTransfer without altering file names or folder structure.

CBCTs with cranial coverage below C3, voxel sizes above 0.4 mm, or incomplete DICOM series will be returned for re-acquisition.

• Head position: Natural Head Position (NHP) is mandatory. The patient looks at their own reflection at eye level, with the Frankfort horizontal parallel to the floor. NHP is not the same as cephalostat positioning.
• Required views: Frontal at rest, frontal smiling, right lateral at rest, right lateral smiling, and a 45° oblique (three-quarter) view. Left lateral views are recommended for asymmetry cases.
• Calibration: A metric ruler or calibration scale bar must be visible in at least one lateral view, held vertically adjacent to the tragus at the level of the ear. This is required for accurate 2D cephalometric scaling.
• Background and lighting: Plain, neutral background (light grey or white). Diffuse, even lighting — no harsh shadows on the face or background. Avoid shooting against windows or variable light sources.
• Hair and accessories: Hair tied back; ears fully exposed. No earrings, necklaces, or items that obscure facial contours or the neck profile.
• Resolution: Minimum 2,000 px on the long axis. High-quality JPEG or RAW format. Do not compress or resize images before submission.

Photos taken outside Natural Head Position or missing the lateral at-rest view with calibration ruler will be returned.

• File format: STL format required for both arches. Export as separate files: upper arch, lower arch, and if available, a maximum intercuspation (occlusion) record.
• Coverage: Full arch scans including at least 3 mm of gingival tissue beyond the cemento-enamel junction. Scan must capture the most posterior molar on each side completely.
• Occlusion record: A bite scan or occlusal registration in maximum intercuspation is strongly recommended. This ensures accurate articulation during surgical simulation.
• Scan quality: No holes, voids, or distorted regions in the tooth or gingival surfaces. Rescan affected areas before submission if scan errors are present.
• Scanner compatibility: Scans from all major clinical intraoral scanners are accepted (3Shape TRIOS, iTero, Cerec, Medit, etc.) provided they export clean STL output.

Scans with incomplete arch coverage or significant voids in the occlusal surface will be returned for re-scanning.

• Lateral cephalogram: If available, include a calibrated lateral ceph in JPEG or TIFF format. Used to cross-reference 2D cephalometric analysis.
• PA / AP cephalogram: Recommended for asymmetry cases. Include with calibration scale if available.
• Panoramic radiograph: Useful for assessing root angulations and condylar morphology. Include if recently taken (within 6 months of submission).
• Intraoral photographs: Full intraoral series (frontal, right buccal, left buccal, upper occlusal, lower occlusal) is helpful for orthodontic setup planning.
• Facial Analysis Form: Available in the Downloads section. Complete and include with the initial submission.

Optional data improves the comprehensiveness of the plan and is strongly encouraged where records are available.