Effect of segmental Le Fort I osteotomy on maxillary tooth type-related pulpal blood-flow characteristics

Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is a noninvasive method to assess pulpal bloo d-flow (PBF). Osteotomies may have segment-related losses of pulpal sensibi lity. Objectives. To determine the effect of segmental Le Fort I osteotomy on too th-type related PBF values. Materials and methods. In 12 volunteers, maxillary incisors, canines, and p remolars were investigated bilaterally by LDF to assess local PBF values be fore and after surgery. Perfusion units (PU) were in 3 sessions, on the day before surgery and at 4 and 56 days after osteotomy. Results. Measurements before surgery were significantly higher than at 4 da ys after surgery for the canine (P < .01) and for the overall PBF values (P < .01). At 4 days assessment, PBF values of tooth types adjacent to vertic al osteotomy cuts showed a significant decrease for the lateral incisors (P < .05), canines, and first premolars (P < .05), with no significant differ ences between the preoperative and postoperative values for tooth types not adjacent to vertical osteotomy cuts (P < .05). Conclusions. Segmental Le fort I osteotomy induced a short-term and long-te rm decrease in maxillary PBF values of tooth types adjacent to vertical ost eotomy cuts.