Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar subjetivamente a imagem de perfil de tecido mole predictiva gerada por computador, em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia ortognática de avanço mandibular isolado, e, conseqüentemente, se o uso dela é aceitável para comunicação e elucidação do paciente durante o plano de tratamento, comparando os programas Dolphin Imaging e Dentofacial Planner Plus. Doze pacientes portadores de deficiência mandibular horizontal foram fotografados de perfil no préoperatório e 5 meses depois da cirurgia, no mínimo, sendo as imagens pós-operatórias confrontadas com as imagens predictivas produzidas pelos programas de imagem. Essas imagens foram analisadas por 100 cirurgiões-dentistas (50 cirurgiões buco-maxilo-faciais e 50 ortodontistas) que preencheram uma tabela de análise para cada imagem avaliada. Os resultados mostraram que: 1) O programa Dolphin Imaging foi o mais citado nos escores "excelente" e "muito bom" em todos os pontos de análise (ponta nasal, ângulo nasolabial, lábio superior, lábio inferior, região mentoniana, base mandibular, sulco lábio-mentoniano e geral), enquanto o programa Dentofacial Planner Plus foi o mais citado nos escores "regular" e "ruim"; 2) No escore "bom" houve um empate entre os dois programas nos pontos ‘lábio superior’ e ‘lábio inferior’, sendo o programa Dentofacial Planner Plus preferido para o ponto ‘base mandibular’ e o programa Dolphin Imaging para os demais pontos de análise (ponta nasal, ângulo nasolabial, região mentoniana, sulco lábio-mentoniano e geral); e 3) Existe uma predominância média de escores "muito bom e "bom" para o programa Dolphin Imaging e de escores "bom" e "regular" para o programa Dentofacial Planner Plus. Deste modo, nas imagens de avanço mandibular, diante da metodologia empregada e dos dados obtidos no presente estudo,...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate subjectively computer-generated soft tissue profile prediction in patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for mandibular advancement only and, consequently, if its usage is acceptable as a patient communication and education tool during the treatment plan. Two softwares were compared: Dolphin Imaging and Dentofacial Planner Plus. Pictures were taken from twelve patients with mandibular hypoplasia in the preoperative and at least 5 months postoperative period. The postoperative images were compared with the prediction generated by the two softwares. These images were evaluated by 100 dentists (50 oralmaxillofacial surgeons and 50 orthodontists) who filled in one correspondent table to each analyzed image. The results showed that: 1) Dolphin Imaging software was mentioned more times as excellent and very good in every analysis point (tip of the nose, nasolabial angle, upper lip, lower lip, chin, mandibular base, labiomental fold, and general), while Dentofacial Planner Plus software was scored fair and poor more frequently. 2) For the score "good", there was a tie between the two softwares at the points upper lip and lower lip, and the software Dentofacial Planner Plus was preferred to the mandibular base point, while Dolphin Imaging was to all the other points left (tip of the nose, nasolabial angle, chin, labiomental fold, and general); and, 3) The majority of the mean scores were very good and good to Dolphin Imaging and good and fair to Dentofacial Planner Plus. Thus, according to the methodology and data obtained it is possible to conclude that to mandibular advancement images: the data show that both softwares are well accepted to soft tissue profile prediction, which suggests that both of them can be used as a communication tool with the patient during the treatment plan. However, Dolphin Imaging showed better results in this present study. / Orientador: Idelmo Rangel Garcia Júnior / Coorientador: Pedro Felipe Franco / Banca: Fábio Yoshio Tanaka / Banca: Laura Guimarães Pagliuso Paleckis / Banca: Osmar Aparecido Cuoghi / Banca: Eduardo Hochuli Vieira / Doutor