Marginal bone level after Le Fort I osteotomy

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Periodontology

Background:

• Dentofacial deformities often require surgical correction.
• Le Fort I osteotomy and interdental osteotomy are common procedures.
• Assessing impact on marginal bone level is crucial for long-term stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of Le Fort I osteotomy and maxillary interdental osteotomy on marginal bone levels.
• To determine if these surgical interventions lead to clinically significant bone loss.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective radiographic analysis of 40 patients (mean age 24) undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy with or without interdental osteotomy.
• Marginal bone levels were measured pre-operatively and 1 year post-operatively.
• Patients maintained good oral hygiene throughout the study period.

Main Results:

• Overall mean marginal bone loss of 0.2 mm was observed at surfaces without interdental osteotomy (P=0.001).
• Significant bone loss was noted for central incisors (0.5 mm) and canines (0.4 mm).
• Interdental osteotomy resulted in 0.4 mm mean bone loss, not significantly different from no interdental osteotomy (P=0.07).
• Premolars showed significant bone loss (0.3 mm, P=0.04) after interdental osteotomy.
• Despite statistical significance, bone loss was not clinically relevant.

Conclusions:

• Le Fort I osteotomy and interdental osteotomy generally result in minimal marginal bone loss.
• Clinical relevance of bone loss is unlikely in patients with good oral hygiene.
• Findings may not apply to patients with pre-existing compromised marginal bone levels.