Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the longterm dentofacial changes after sagittal splitting osteotomies in skeletal Class III patients.
The lateral cephalograms of 7 females observed for more than fifteen years after surgery were used. The postoperative changes in the position of Pogonion were measured.
The results were as follows:
1) From five years to fifteen years after surgery, Pogonion moved antero-posteriolly and vertically. However, five patients who had stable occlusion revealed less displacement.
2) Pogonion of two patients showing some relapse occlusion-wise moved more backwardly and downwardly from two years postoperatively to more than five years postoperatively. Some continuous positional changes of Pogonion was observed even fifteen years after surgery.
The less Pogonion displacement was, the more stable the occlusion was. However, when greater Pogonion displacement is observed, the patient should be given more careful postoperative management.
