Anterior maxillary corticotomies.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Surgical Orthodontics

Background:

• Surgical subapical osteotomy with multiple corticotomies is a technique used in orthodontics.
• Patients with significant dental spacing may require surgical intervention.
• Adjunctive procedures may be necessary for optimal outcomes.

Observation:

• A patient presented with multiple diastemas requiring surgical orthodontic treatment.
• An adjunctive tongue reduction surgery was performed concurrently with the maxillary surgery.
• The tongue reduction was completed during the second stage, coinciding with definitive tooth repositioning.

Findings:

• The combined surgical approach, including subapical osteotomy, corticotomies, and tongue reduction, was successfully performed in two stages.
• The tongue reduction was found to be inconsequential, allowing for surgical intervention with little hesitation.
• This technique is indicated for patients with anterior maxillary and mandibular procedures, especially those with tongue thrust or limited floor of mouth space.

Implications:

• Patients undergoing surgical orthodontics for anterior maxillary procedures should be evaluated for tongue size reduction.
• Concurrent tongue reduction can be beneficial for patients with tongue thrust habits or restricted floor of mouth space.
• This combined surgical orthodontic approach offers a viable solution for complex orthodontic cases with associated tongue issues.