Dental Outcomes in Computer-Assisted Orthognathic Surgery

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of computer-aided orthognathic surgery in reducing incisal overjet and establishing class I occlusion in subjects with dentofacial deformities. To address the research purpose, the investigators initiated a retrospective cohort study and enrolled a sample of subjects who underwent computer-assisted orthognathic surgery for dentofacial deformities. Two examiners assessed preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalometric radiographs for change in overjet after computer-assisted orthognathic surgery. Preoperative and postoperative occlusal photographs were then reviewed to assess for establishment of class I occlusion after computer-assisted orthognathic surgery. Cohen &kgr; coefficient was used to assess for interrater agreement. A matched-pairs t-test was used to assess reduction in incisal overjet after computer-assisted orthognathic surgery. The sample was composed of 9 subjects who underwent computer-assisted surgery for dentofacial deformities. There was good interrater consistency for preoperative measurement of overjet (&kgr; = 0.7, P ⩽ 0.001). There was fair interrater consistency for postoperative measurement of overjet (&kgr; = 0.4, P = 0 .02). Both examiners agreed on preoperative and postoperative assessments of occlusal photographs. There was a 3.4-mm reduction in incisal overjet after computer-assisted orthognathic surgery (P ⩽ 0.001). Mean postoperative absolute overjet was 1.3 mm. In subjects with dentofacial deformities, computer-aided orthognathic surgery was effective in reducing incisal overjet and establishing class I occlusion.