ABSTRACT
Abstracts: Exploitation of the regenerative capacity of bone has spawned a diverse spectrum of modalities to correct osseous defects. Distraction osteogenesisis a process of new bone formation betweenthe surfaces of bone segments gradually separatedby incremental traction. Surgical methods of distraction osteogenesis represent a reliable biologic approach to correct difficult congenital, post-traumatic, or other acquired skeletal deformities. Distraction osteogenesis can be used to lengthen the ramus and the body of the mandible, as well as for ridge augmentation. It can also protract the maxilla or if necessary the entire mid-facial complex in cases of severe deformity.Distraction osteogenesis provides a viable alternate for the correction of transverse deficiencies through true skeletal mandibular widening providing a new paradigm for patients whose treatment alternative and results were previously limited.