Intraoral mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

During recent years, distraction osteogenesis has gained in popularity for the treatment of various bone deficiencies either in the vertical, transverse, or anteroposterior dimension. Distraction osteogenesis has been shown to be an effective technique for mandibular widening and lengthening where traditional orthognathic surgery has important limitations. The intraoral approach to these procedures prevents damage to the inferior alveolar nerve and the developing dental follicles, and eliminates hypertrophic facial scars. Intraoral distraction osteogenesis also avoids donor-site morbidity, and minimizes the need for blood transfusion or prolonged fixation. This intraoral application provides for enhanced patient acceptance and reduces the potentially negative psychosocial effects of wearing an extraoral distraction appliance.