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Oral Surgery · single question

Which statement about the Le Fort I osteotomy is FALSE?

  1. The osteotomy is made above the apices of the maxillary teeth
  2. It allows the maxilla to be advanced, impacted, or downgrafted
  3. It repositions the mandible into its new position
  4. It can be segmented to change the transverse dimension of the maxilla
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. It repositions the mandible into its new position

  • A. This IS true. The horizontal cut runs above the root apices, from the piriform rim to the pterygomaxillary junction, to avoid devitalizing the teeth.
  • B. This IS true. The down-fractured maxilla can be advanced, set back, impacted (moved superiorly), or downgrafted, and rotated in any plane.
  • C. CORRECT — this is FALSE. The Le Fort I osteotomy is a MAXILLARY procedure. It does not move the mandible. Mandibular repositioning is achieved by a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) or an intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. When both jaws must move, the two procedures are combined as bimaxillary (double-jaw) surgery.
  • D. This IS true. Segmenting the down-fractured maxilla (two-, three-, or four-piece) permits surgical expansion or differential leveling of the arch.

Note: Movement stability hierarchy (most to least stable): maxillary impaction > mandibular advancement > maxillary advancement > maxillary downgraft and surgical widening.

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