Periapical condition of anterior teeth after surgical correction of mandibular prognathism. A radiographic study.

Extrusion and root resorption of the mandibular anterior teeth have been reported after surgical correction of mandibular prognathism by horizontal osteotomy of the rami. The aim of the present study was to find out whether oblique sliding osteotomy also has such side effects. Intraoral radiographs of the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth of 61 patients were studied. Enlargement of the periodontal space and signs of root resorption were estimated postoperatively and at a later review 1 1/2-5 years after the operation. Enlargement of periodontal space occurred postoperatively in 16.2% of the maxillary incisors and 52.2% of the mandibular incisors. The enlargements were mostly reversible and at the final review only 1.1 and 8.5% of the maxillary and mandibular incisors, respectively, showed such enlargements. Root resorption was rarely found in radiographs from the postoperative control. At the final review, however, there were signs of root resorption of 1.6 and 20.8% of the maxillary and mandibular incisors, respectively. It appears warranted to conclude that the anterior teeth, especially the mandibular incisors, are exposed to strong forces also after oblique sliding osteotomy of the mandibular rami.