Extreme mandibular dentobasal discrepancy in orthognathic surgery: a proposal for a definitive solution

Some cases in orthognathic surgery present with large discrepancies between the skeletal pattern and the occlusion. If there is little or no sagittal dental discrepancy, but the mandibular basal bone is prognathic, surgical correction can be critical. We describe a two-step procedure to treat these patients. The first step is to adapt the lower alveolar bone to the position of the chin. Distraction osteogenesis in the anterior dentoalveolar mandibular region carries the lower incisors to the same level as the chin. A one-tooth space is opened in the distraction area to obtain a full negative over-jet. Bimaxillary osteotomy can be used to correct class III dentoskeletal malocclusion. Five patients aged 20–40 years have been operated on during the last 2 years. The first step creates harmony between the chin and lower lip, together with a negative over-jet and a true prognathic profile. The class III malocclusion is corrected with a bimaxillary osteotomy. Our two-step plan achieves good occlusion and profile in patients with severe discrepancies between their occlusion and the position of the chin. Dental implants can then be inserted into the gaps left by distraction, which results in a third bicuspid on each side of the mandible.     

Supernumerary teeth in the bilateral buccal space: a rare case

Supernumerary teeth are usually found in the alveolus, but may occasionally be sited in unusual places. We report a rare case of a patient who presented with two supernumerary teeth in the bilateral buccal space.     

Dentoalveolar infections

Dentoalveolar infections represent a wide spectrum of conditions, from simple localized abscesses to deep neck space infections. The initial assessment of the patient with a dentoalveolar infection requires considerable clinical skill and experience, and determines the need for further airway management or emergent surgical therapy. Knowledge of head and neck fascial space anatomy is essential in diagnosing, understanding spread, and surgically managing these infections. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must make use of their wide spectrum of clinical skill and knowledge to effectively evaluate and treat patients with dentoalveolar infections.     

Dentoalveolar nerve injury

Nerve injury associated with dentoalveolar surgery is a complication contributing to the altered sensation of the lower lip, chin, buccal gingivae, and tongue. This surgery-related sensory defect is a morbid postoperative outcome. Several risk factors have been proposed. This article reviews the incidence of trigeminal nerve injury, presurgical risk assessment, classification, and surgical coronectomy versus conventional extraction as an approach to prevent neurosensory damage associated with dentoalveolar surgery.     

Dental crowding: the restorative approach

Crowded dentition is commonly found in the esthetic zone. Many forms of therapy can be used to treat the overlap of teeth caused by insufficient space within the dental arch. A careful analysis of patients with dental crowding is necessary to determine the most appropriate treatment of each individual case. Clinical considerations, advantages, disadvantages, and alternative treatment modalities for crowding dentition are discussed in this article and a clinical case is presented to illustrate the application of these techniques.     

Pediatric injuries in maxillofacial trauma: a 5 year study

Fractures of the facial skeleton in children are less frequent. This clinical retrospective study of 5 year was conducted on 95 patients aged less than 16 years who sustained maxillofacial injuries during the period 2003 to 2008. Age, sex, etiology incidence and type of fracture were studied. The ratio of boys to girls was 1.9:1. The 7–12 year age group was commonly involved and the highest incidence was at age of ten years. Falls were the most common cause of injury accounting for 41%, followed by road traffic accidents (30%). Sports related injuries, assault and child abuse were also the causes of injury in children. Dentoalveolar injuries were found to be highest incidence with 42.1% followed by mandibular fractures. The soft tissue injuries were associated the pediatric maxillofacial trauma were found to be 34.7% of all cases.     

Collaborative treatment for a case of condylar hyperplastic facial asymmetry

Facial asymmetry can be caused by unilateral condylar hyperplasia. In such cases, it may be difficult to achieve symmetry since there is dentoalveolar compensation on the affected side, and the occlusal cant does not correspond to the frontal mandibular deviation. In the case presented, surgical orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery planning was accomplished for a patient with facial asymmetry due to condylar hyperplasia. The surgical plan was devised with particular attention to the severe dentoalveolar compensation. In this case, prior to the two-jaw surgery, the occlusal cant and frontal mandibular plane inclination was corrected through impaction of the left molar region by segmental osteotomy. Facial asymmetry and severe dentoalveolar compensation were successfully corrected after a unilateral segmental osteotomy and two-jaw surgery, resulting in a stable occlusal relationship and facial symmetry as well as good jaw function. Collaboration between the orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons was essential for the successful treatment of the patient.     

Rapid Tooth Movement and Orthodontic Treatment Using Dentoalveolar Distraction (DAD): Long-term (5 years) Follow-up of a Class II Case

The purpose of this report is to describe the dentoalveolar distraction (DAD) technique and to present its effects on the surrounding structures by presenting a Class II case. A 15-year-old skeletal and dental Class II female patient with an overjet of 9 mm was treated by DAD osteogenesis. A custom-made, rigid, tooth-borne intraoral distraction device was used for rapid canine retraction. Osteotomies surrounding the canines were made to achieve rapid movement of the canines within the dentoalveolar segment, in compliance with distraction osteogenesis principles. The amount of canine retraction was 7.5 mm in 12 days at a rate of 0.625 mm per day, with no posterior anchorage loss. The canine teeth showed 1.6 mm extrusion and 11 degrees inclination change (distal tipping) during the same period. Orthodontic treatment continued for 6 months with no clinical and radiographic evidence of complications such as root fracture, root resorption, ankylosis, and soft tissue dehiscence. The DAD technique is an innovative method, because it reduces overall orthodontic treatment time by about 50%, with no unfavorable effects on periodontal tissues and surrounding structures and with no need to use any intraoral or extraoral anchorage appliances.