Improvement of Facial Appearance and Nocturnal Breathing with Geniotomy (Sliding Genioplasty): Report of Two Cases

ABSTRACT

This article reports on two cases of nonobese female patients who presented in an orthodontic practice complaining of dental malocclusion and facial dysharmony. Because of the observed clinically and radiographically extreme mandibular retrognathia, they were referred for a sleep study and were found to have mild sleep apnea. Surgery in the form of advancement geniotomy was offered to relieve their retroglossal obstruction, improve their nocturnal sleep, and simultaneously address their facial esthetic concerns. Advancement geniotomy is useful for sleep apneic patients with exclusively retroglossal obstruction secondary to mandibular retrognathia.

KEYWORDS

genioglossus advancement - advancement geniotomy - obstructive sleep apnea - sleep disordered breathing - horizontal mandibular osteotomy

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