Distraction Osteogenesis in Severe Dysgnathic States

Inborn or developmentally caused hypoplastic states in the maxillofacial region can be subdivided into syndromal or non-syndromal based. However in syndromal-based hypoplasias, distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a classic procedure to correct these deformities; it can also be applied in non-syndromal diseases for various hypoplastic conditions in the maxilla and mandible. When the extent of bone lengthening is too large or when generation of bone and soft tissue are needed to align teeth, distraction osteogenesis is often the primary treatment option. Hypoplastic jaw or dento-alveolar conditions can be treated in all spacial directions (sagittal, vertical, and transversal). The indication to perform distraction osteogenesis instead of orthognathic surgery to move the whole or parts of the dental arch is based on the individual patient’s situation. This chapter describes the surgery of DO in various hypoplastic dysgnathic situations.