The stability of the use of bilateral sagittal split osteotomy in the closure of anterior open bite.

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary report on the stability of the use of bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and rigid internal fixation (2-mm bicortical screws) in the closure of anterior open bite. Ten patients who had finished orthodontic treatment and were at least 1 year out of surgery were evaluated by cephalometric analysis for dental and skeletal changes. One angular and three vertical measurements were evaluated cephalometrically at three times for each patient: immediately preoperatively, a maximum of 1 week postoperatively, and after a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. The results of this small sample seemed to indicate that the use of bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and 2-mm bicortical screws for the closure of the anterior open bite is a relatively stable procedure.