Human gingival and pulpal blood flow during healing after Le Fort I osteotomy

Purpose: The occurrence of a hypervascular period during healing after orth ognathic surgery has not been investigated rigorously in human pulpal and g ingival tissues. This study used laser Doppler flowmetry to investigate the effects of Le Fort I osteotomy on maxillary pulpal and gingival blood flow between the first and third week after surgery. Patients and Methods: Pulpal blood flow was recorded in maxillary incisors, and gingival blood flow was assessed from a site slightly apical to the in terdental papilla of the maxillary central incisors in 10 patients who were undergoing a Le Fort I osteotomy, 10 patients who were undergoing a mandib ular osteotomy, and 10 nonsurgical control subjects who were not undergoing orthodontic treatment. Blood flow measurements were made before surgery an d at intervals between 7 and 10 days, 14 and 17 days, and 21 and 24 days af ter surgery. The nonsurgical control subjects were tested at similar interv als. Results: Baseline gingival and pulpal blood flow values did not differ sign ificantly for the 3 groups. In addition, gingival and pulpal blood flow did not change in the nonsurgical control group. Analysis of the postsurgical change from baseline blood flow values indicated a significant increase in pulpal blood flow in the maxillary surgery patients relative to the patient s treated with mandibular surgery. However, no significant group difference was found for gingival blood flow. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that pulpal blood flow is increas ed between the first and third week after Le Fort I osteotomy, but it did n ot find a significant change in gingival blood flow. (C) 2001 American Asso ciation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.