Comparative stability and outcomes of two surgical approaches for correction of class III asymmetry with lip or occlusal cant

Objectives: To assess and compare the stability and outcomes of the two surgical approaches for patients with roll asymmetry. Materials and methods: A total of 50 adult patients were consecutively recruited for this prospective study. Patients with class III asymmetry and lip or occlusal cant who underwent bimaxillary surgery were grouped according to surgical approach: asymmetric posterior impaction on both sides (API, n = 31) and posterior impaction on one side and posterior extrusion on the other side (PIE, n = 19). Postsurgical stability and outcomes between groups were determined with cone-beam computed tomography for facial midline, lip, and occlusal cant at 1 week (T1), and at least 12-month postsurgery (T2, completion of orthodontic treatment). Results: Presurgery, the upper anterior occlusal cant and lip cant were significantly greater for the PIE group (p < 0.05). Postsurgery (T2), the mandible moved upward and rotated upward in both groups. However, the upward rotation was significantly greater in the PIE group compared with the API group. Although the two approaches resulted in significant improvements in facial symmetry, the deviation in the facial midline remained under-corrected for most API patients. Conclusions: Patient outcomes for mandibular stability and facial symmetry differed between the two surgical approaches for correction of class III asymmetry with lip or occlusal cant. Clinical relevance: The findings of this study suggest that planned over-correction is a reasonable option for the approach of asymmetric posterior impaction on both sides.