Stability of the mandible after advancement and use of dental plus skeletal maxillomandibular fixation: An experimental investigation in Macaca mulatta

This study examined short-term stability of the mandible following advancement surgery and the use of skeletal suspension wires plus dental maxillomandibular fixation. Twenty-four adult female Macaca mulatta underwent bilateral sagittal ramus osteotomy and advancement of approximately 6 mm. All animals had dental maxillomandibular fixation secured by bonding the upper and lower teeth together with an orthodontic composite resin. In half of the animals, the use of circummandibular wires connected to pyriform aperture wires were additionally applied. Tantalum bone markers were placed and cephalograms analyzed during the first six postoperative weeks to evaluate skeletal stability. A statistically significant mean horizontal relapse at the mandibular symphysis occurred in the group without the skeletal wires, whereas no relapse occurred in the group with the skeletal wires. A significant difference in the vertical displacement of the anterior mandible occurred, with an inferior movement of the symphysis in the group without skeletal wires, and a superior movement of the symphysis in the group with skeletal wires. The results of this study indicate that the use of skeletal suspension wires is advantageous in the prevention of horizontal and vertical skeletal relapse.