Postoperative Stability in Maxillary Anterior Alveolar Osteotomy using Bioabsorptive Mini Plates

This study investigated maxillary stability after maxillary anterior alveolar osteotomy for maxillary protrusion. Bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) mini plates were compared with titanium mini plates. In the study group, 5 patients received titanium mini plates and 4 patients received PLLA mini plates. For all 9 patients, cephalometric analysis was performed preoperatively (T1), immediately after surgery (T2), and at 1 year after surgery (T3). No significant differences between cases with titanium mini plates and those with PLLA mini plates were found in all cephalometric variables. These results suggest that PLLA mini plates may be used safely for clinical stabilization after maxillary anterior alveolar osteotomy.