Sagittal osteotomy of the mandibular horizontal ramus for correction of apertognathia: report of case.

A case of anterior skeletal open bite was successfully treated with a sagittal osteotomy of the mandibular horizontal ramus. Advantages of this technique are good access and ease of surgery, broad medullary contact at osteotomy sites, and elimination of the need for a bone graft. Close cooperation between speech pathologist and surgeon is essential when apertognathia is acquired by tongue-thrust or abnormal oral habits. Removal of causal factors and adequate immobilization will reduce the chance for relapse often seen in open bite surgery.