Segmental osteotomy with interpositional bone grafting in the posterior maxillary region.

Tooth loss is followed by a natural bone resorption process that often leads to defects in the alveolar ridge, making the installation of dental implants unfeasible. Correction of such bone defects, especially loss of height of the ridge or associated loss of thickness, is a great challenge to dental surgeons. The technique of segmental osteotomy accompanied by interpositional bone grafting has been shown to be a viable option for addressing the problem. This report describes a successful application of the technique in the treatment of vertical dimension deficiency in the posterior maxillary region. Four months after graft surgery, 3 implants were successfully placed in accordance with the original reverse planning.

Prospective study of soft tissue contour changes following chin bone graft harvesting.

This study sought to evaluate changes in the soft tissue contour after chin bone graft harvesting. Thirty selected patients underwent chin bone graft harvesting and evaluations were made using lateral cephalograms preoperatively and postoperatively at 30 and 180 days. Fixed points and lines were established on cephalometric tracings and used to measure the selected vertical and sagittal parameters. Results showed statistically significant alterations to the vertical position values of the vermilion (V-VPV) which increased from 9.70 to 11.01 and the exposure of lower incisors (V-ELI) which increased from 1.85 to 3.5, showing an increase in their distance from the plane of reference and a lowering of their position, the clinical equivalent of a labial ptosis condition. None of the sagittal parameters analysed showed any statistically significant variation in the final evaluation. The study concluded that the alterations to patients' soft tissue contours resulted mainly from failure to ensure precise reattachment of the mentalis muscles and identified the need for further investigation of that aspect.