Mandibular Lengthening: Intraoral Titanium Devices
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Prof. Dr. Dr. Konrad Wangerin

Introduction

In 1992, McCarthy et al., reported the application of distraction osteogenesis to lengthen the malformed mandible (McCarthy et al., 1992). After a complete mandibular osteotomy, lengthening was performed by utilizing a fixator commonly used for hand surgery. It was applied externally using four transbuccal pins. Currently, unilateral and bilateral mandibular deficiencies of the mandibular corpus and ascending ramus can be corrected in infancy, childhood, and adulthood using different intraoral distraction devices. The purpose of this presentation is to introduce our experience with mandibular osteodistraction using titanium intraoral distraction devices developed in cooperation with Medicon eG, Tuttlingen, Germany. Three different mandibular distraction devices are available: horizontal, angled, and oblique.