EFFECTS OF LEFORT-I OSTEOTOMY ON HUMAN GINGIVAL AND PULPAL CIRCULATION

The maxillary blood flow during the first 24 h following Le Fort I ost eotomy was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry. Pulpal blood flow was recorded from two maxillary incisors and gingival blood flow was asse ssed from a site slightly apical to the interdental papilla of the max illary central incisors of 12 patients receiving Le Fort I osteotomy, nine control patients receiving mandibular osteotomy, and 10 nonsurgic al control subjects without orthodontic appliances. Measurements were made before surgery and at time intervals between 0-8, 8-16, and 16-24 h after surgery The nonsurgical controls were tested at similar inter vals. Gingival and pulpal blood-flow measurements did not change over time in the nonsurgical control group. Presurgical blood-flow values d id not differ between the two surgical groups. Following surgery, mean gingival (but not pulpal) blood flow was significantly lower for pati ents treated with Le Fort I osteotomy than for patients treated with m andibular osteotomy. Follow-up examinations revealed that one patient receiving Le Fort I osteotomy experienced loss of gingiva and bone aro und both central incisors. This patient had one of the largest reducti ons in gingival blood flow.