Orthognathic Surgery-LeFort I Osteotomy.

Orthognathic surgery is a complex type of facial surgery that can have a profound impact on a patient's occlusal function and facial aesthetics. Close collaboration between the maxillofacial surgeon and an orthodontist is required, and the surgical team must have a strong foundation in facial analysis and firm understanding of the maxillofacial skeleton to achieve surgical success. Herein, we review the maxillary LeFort I osteotomy as it pertains to orthognathic surgery, with particular attention to the indications, contraindications, preoperative assessment, surgical technique, and possible complications encountered.

Orthognathic Surgery of the Mandible.

Orthognathic surgery performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment is commonly performed to correct skeletal irregularities and realign the maxillomandibular relationship to improve occlusal function and facial esthetics. A thorough understanding of soft tissue esthetics, skeletal and occlusal relationships, and surgical techniques is required to obtain successful results. Surgical techniques have evolved greatly throughout history, as technological advances such as virtual surgical planning have become available and widely used to obtain predictable movements with minimized complications. The aim of this article is to review the orthognathic surgical procedures of the mandible, with particular attention to the indications, contraindications, preoperative assessment, surgical technique, and possible complications encountered.

Immediate reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects via tissue engineering.

Ameloblastomas are benign, locally invasive odontogenic tumors that comprise approximately 1% of tumors within the jaws, with 66% located in the posterior mandible. If left untreated, these lesions can reach enormous size, resulting in considerable deformity and associated morbidity. Traditionally, defects >6 cm warranted a free-flap fibula transfer or iliac crest autogenous graft. Surgical treatment for the two presented cases included a large (>6 cm) mandibular segmental resection with immediate reconstruction via a tissue-engineering protocol that included bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2), bone marrow aspirate concentrate, and cortical bone chips. Both patients had an uneventful postoperative course and healed satisfactorily. Established bone reconstruction determinants include bone volume, facial counter, esthetics, and restoration of functionality. Advances in tissue engineering provide a legitimate alternative while decreasing the risks, length of hospital stay, and postoperative morbidity.

Characteristics Identified for Success by Restorative Dental Science Department Chairpersons.

The primary aim of this study was to determine the characteristics that current chairpersons in restorative dentistry, general dentistry, prosthodontics, and operative dentistry departments in U.S. dental schools feel are most relevant in contributing to their success. The secondary aim was to determine these individuals' rankings of the importance of a listed set of characteristics for them to be successful in their position. All 82 current chairs of the specified departments were invited to respond to an electronic survey. The survey first asked respondents to list the five most essential characteristics to serve as chair of a department and to rank those characteristics based on importance. Participants were next given a list of ten characteristics in the categories of management and leadership and, without being aware of the category of each individual item, asked to rank them in terms of importance for their success. A total of 39 chairpersons completed the survey (47.6% response rate; 83.3% male and 16.2% female). In section one, the respondents reported that leadership, vision, work ethic, integrity, communication, and organization were the most essential characteristics for their success. In section two, the respondents ranked the leadership characteristics as statistically more important than the management characteristics (p<0.0001) for being successful in their positions.