Does LeFort I Surgery Have Any Influence on External Root Resorption?

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate root resorption on maxillary teeth neighboring osteotomy sites in response to segmental LeFort I osteotomy over time. Methods: Eighteen subjects, aged 18 to 65 years with pre-surgery (T0), post-surgery (T1), and long-term follow-up (T2) CBCT records were included. Sixteen control subjects, aged 17.67 to 62.33 years, with pre-treatment (T0), progress (T1), and long-term progress orthodontic (T2) CBCT records were also used. Maxillary central incisor, canine, and first molar roots were segmented. The volume, surface area, and root length changes were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and mean differences across follow-up periods. Significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The surgical group had an overall increase in the amount of root resorption in all time comparisons and variables with significance (p<0.05) in length, volume, and surface area. When comparing mean differences between the control and surgical groups, no significant differences were observed except for a few variables. Conclusion: LeFort I segmental osteotomy in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, induces root resorption. However, except for a few variables, the differences compared to orthodontic treatment alone are not statistically significant. Moreover, these findings are clinically insignificant.