Long-term effects of segmental alveolar osteotomy

The long-term effects of segmental alveolar osteotomy are reviewed. Thirteen patients attended a follow-up appointment between 5 and 9 years after operation and investigations related to the teeth, their supporting structures and the osteotomy bone cuts. The teeth involved in the osteotomies which gave a vital response after 1 year with ethyl chloride all maintained this response in the long term and about half the number of the teeth not responding at 3 years had recovered this response after 5 years or more. The incidence of periodontal pocketing, non-vital teeth and tooth mobility was low. There was radiographic evidence of the osteotomy bone cuts in more than half of the cases in the long term, although clinically, union had occurred in all cases. The occlusion was stable in all except one class II div. 2 case, which had been treated by lower segmental osteotomy only, where relapse had occurred.