Distraction osteogenesis: the effects of orthodontic tooth movement on distracted mandibular bone

The application of distraction osteogenesis in craniomaxillofacial surgery has created new treatment methods for patients with craniofacial skeletal dysplasias. Most of the applications in the craniofacial skeleton have been for the correction of severe congenital or acquired conditions. As more understanding is gained with these new approaches, refinements in techniques will enhance treatment planning and outcome. This will expand the application of distraction osteogenesis to more common, less severe types of skeletal dysplasias. One of the important areas in mandibular distraction osteogenesis is the management of the dental gap created when distraction is applied within the tooth-bearing segment of the mandibular body. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of orthodontic tooth movement into new bone created through the process of distraction osteogenesis. Orthodontic tooth movement through newly formed mandibular bone in the canine model was performed and, through histologic studies, was found to create compact bone along the path of the moving tooth. This compact bone replaced the more unstructured woven bone that was originally created by the process of mandibular distraction osteogenesis. These findings indicate that orthodontic tooth movement can be performed in distracted bone and can have significant influence on the stability and long-term structural preservation of the bone created by distraction osteogenesis within the tooth-bearing segment of the mandible.