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 blood-flow (PBF). Osteotomies may have segment-related losses of pulpal sensibility. Objectives. To determine the effect of segmental Le Fort I osteotomy on tooth-type related PBF values. Materials and methods. In 12 volunteers, maxillary incisors, canines, and premolars were investigated bilaterally by LDF to assess local PBF values before 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 days 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 vertical osteotomy cuts showed a significant decrease for the lateral incisors (P < .05), canines, and first premolars (P < .05), with no significant differences 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-term decrease in maxillary PBF values of tooth types adjacent to vertical osteotomy cuts.