When is a bone graft needed?

[bracedfaced]

Is a bone graft generally needed when lowering one side of the maxilla by 1-2mm? It seems sometimes a graft is used, other times not. Is there a general rule of thumb? Anyone have their maxilla lowered and NOT need a bone graft?

[Cheryl]

Not sure about Maxilla but i'm possibly having a bone graft for my mandibular advancement. They only said it might be needed though...?

[bracedfaced]

Thanks

I recently had a Lefort 1 and was impacted by about 2mm more on one side than the other. I am now hating this and wondering if I can have the side that was over-impacted lowered. But I can't imagine you can just lower it without filling in the empty space with a bone graft.

No one has any info on this? Anyone ever hear of anyone getting their upper jaw lowered (to lengthen the midface) and know whether they needed a bone graft?

[Cheryl]

My surgeon said its because they way the cut the bone. They go in at the back of my lower teeth and cut diagonally across so there is no big space like there would be if cut horizontally... I think it depends on how good the split in the jaw is. He showed me a model of what would happen and pointed out that this showed the ideal cut. I presume not everyone cuts the same?

[Okra]

I'm really new to all of this and was wondering the same thing. I have pretty significant asymmetry (lower left jaw is shorter than the right) and was wondering if I will need a bone graft to correct it. Has anyone had that experience? Thanks!