title: The use of a bite fork to help mobilize the maxilla after downfracture during the Le Fort I osteotomy. A technical note.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Le Fort I osteotomy is indicated to reposition the maxilla in the surgical correction of dentofacial deformities. Although it is a known surgical step, like any surgical procedure, it can have complications and difficulties; among these, the initial mobility of the jaw is very common after completing all corticotomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors present a technique in which the bite fork is used as an auxiliary tool in maxilla downfracture, especially in cases of maxillary impaction where vertical space is created on the walls of the corticotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As the bite fork acts as a scraper with a long leverage arm, an advantage would be the better distribution of forces along the corticotomy, minimizing the risk of bad fracture and facilitating maxillary downfracture movement.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Group, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 627 Vicky and Joseph Safra Pavilion A1, office 119, 05652-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil, eliohs@einstein.br.
authors.forename: Elio Hitoshi
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Shajadi Carlos Pardo
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kaba
authors.forename: Marcelo Martinson
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Fernando Kendi
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Horikawa
mesh_terms: D063169:Dentofacial Deformities / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000601:surgery; D056739:Pterygopalatine Fossa / Q000601:surgery