Alterations in osseous crestal height following interdental osteotomies

A study was performed to evaluate the osseous crestal changes following maxillary and mandibular segmental osteotomies. Ten patients with 22 osteotomy sites were evaluated prior to surgery and 6 months postsurgery. Periodontal sounding measurements along with plaque and gingival indices were used as parameters. Except for two patients whose osteotomies were carried out between closely approximated teeth, no patients experienced significant osseous crestal level changes during the investigation period. This leads the authors to believe that segmental osteotomies may be performed without significantly modifying the height of interproximal bone.