Sliding osteotomy in the mandibular body for correction of prognathism.

To overcome some of the disadvantages of the mandibular body ostectomy, a sliding osteotomy accomplished by parallel sectionings of the mandible in the regions of the first premolars was used for the treatment of mandibular prognathism in two cases. The osteotomy was performed by an intraoral approach without any damage to the contents of the mental foramen. The anterior segment could be moved back to any desirable position without losing optimum bony contact. An adequate blood supply to the anterior segment was maintained by a large area of periosteal attachment on the lingual side. The method is effective for correction of mandibular prognathism in which a good occlusion cannot be expected by a ramus osteotomy.