Blood-flow change and recovery of sensibility in the maxillary dental pulp during and after maxillary distraction: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the change in blood flow and recovery of sensibility in the maxillary dental pulp during and after maxillary distraction.


METHODS
The subjects included 5 patients undergoing high Le Fort I osteotomy and maxillary distraction (D-group) and a reference group of 14 patients who underwent a common single-segment Le Fort I osteotomy, 1-stage maxillary advancement, and mandibular setback surgery (C-group). Eleven (D-group) and 54 (C-group) maxillary incisors were assessed preoperatively and at 1-7 days, 14 days, and 3 months postoperatively. Pulpal blood flow (PBF) was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry, and pulpal sensibility (PS) was investigated by electrodiagnostics.


RESULTS
From postoperative days 1 to 5 (the latency period), the PBF tended to be higher in the D-group than in the C-group. From day 6 to 3 months postoperatively (during and after maxillary distraction), the PBF values of the 2 groups were similar. The PS remained negative up to 14 days postoperatively in both groups. However, at 3 months after the operation, a higher proportion (90.9%) of teeth in the D-group was positive for PS.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that maxillary distraction is a favorable technique for maintenance of PBF and recovery of PS in the maxillary teeth after surgery.
Harada
Kiyoshi
K
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral Restitution, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. harada.osur@tmd.ac.jp
Sato
Masaru
M
Omura
Ken
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*