Morphologic and functional implications of the surgical-orthodontic management of mandibular prognathism: a comprehensive review

Abstract

The aim of this review is to present the various morphologic and functional implications of the surgical-orthodontic management of mandibular prognathism, thus providing a more complete determination of the efficacy of this modality of treatment. Major conclusions that can be drawn from the bibliography indicate that: (1) After treatment considerable improvement takes place on the soft tissue and dentoskeletal profile, occlusal tooth contacts, and temporomandibular joint function and and pain; (2) Surgical management of mandibular prognathism can be associated with decreased maximum interincisal opening; (3) Although immediately after surgery there is a tendency for the condyles to be distracted downward and anteriorly from their preoperative position, in long-term postsurgery the condyles, on the average, regain their initial position; (4) Compensatory alterations in the pharyngeal, suprahyoid, and infrahyoid muscular regions take place postoperatively; (5) Skeletal changes after mandibular setback to correct mandibular prognathism occur frequently, but their magnitude and patterns exhibit variation and are not necessarily detrimental; and (6) Fulfillment of expectations toward surgical-orthodontic management of mandibular prognathism was reported to be frequent.