Effects on the periodontium of vertical bone cutting for segmental osteotomy.

The periodontal response to vertical osteotomy was evaluated in seven males and ten females, aged 14-45 years (mean 26.8), who were scheduled for maxillary and/or mandibular segmental osteotomies. Plaque and gingival indices, pocket depth, clinical attachment level, width of attached gingiva, and osseous support were recorded from teeth adjacent to each osteotomy site prior to and from six months to three years after surgery. In each patient teeth numbers 3, 9, 13, 19, 25, and 29 were used as controls. There was no significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) difference between experimental and control teeth with respect to plaque, gingivitis, pocket depth, or clinical attachment level. Slightly decreased osseous support and width of attached gingiva were found adjacent to osteotomy sites. However, although these decreases were statistically significant (P = 0.005), they were not clinically very large. It was concluded that segmental osteotomies, in general, may be performed without producing significant changes in the periodontal structures.