Mandy
Always true
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Not generally only BSSO,but many other orthognathic procedures. Just to disclaim,this doesn’t always happen and also doesn’t mostly happen. But especially when your mandible is extremely recessed,you have a higher chance of something called condylar resorption.
This is the condyle, the anchor of your mandible basically which most people know. But also,this area during development has something called the condylar cartilage, which in simplified is basically the growth plate of your jaw.

This is how the the common case of condylar resorption can be,
But here is a more severe example:
How does this happen?
After a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy,it’s not just the mandibular body that is brought fowards,your whole mandible has to adjust to this new position including the condyle. It’s another reason why this usually happens to very recessed patients,since their mandible does not have the base to properly adapt to this new position. This would lead to bone resorption in the TMJ,which not only does affect your TMJ,but your entire mandible after a specific period of time.
If this happens after a BSSO:
Will your mandibular body shrink in length? Depends on severity.
Will your jaw grow more downwards (CW rotation)? Most likely indeed.
Will you have TMJ discomfort or maybe pain? Most likely.
Will your chin and alveolar process be effect? Depends on severity.
Will your bone mineral density be impacted? Highly likely.
This is the condyle, the anchor of your mandible basically which most people know. But also,this area during development has something called the condylar cartilage, which in simplified is basically the growth plate of your jaw.

This is how the the common case of condylar resorption can be,
But here is a more severe example:
How does this happen?
After a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy,it’s not just the mandibular body that is brought fowards,your whole mandible has to adjust to this new position including the condyle. It’s another reason why this usually happens to very recessed patients,since their mandible does not have the base to properly adapt to this new position. This would lead to bone resorption in the TMJ,which not only does affect your TMJ,but your entire mandible after a specific period of time.
If this happens after a BSSO:
Will your mandibular body shrink in length? Depends on severity.
Will your jaw grow more downwards (CW rotation)? Most likely indeed.
Will you have TMJ discomfort or maybe pain? Most likely.
Will your chin and alveolar process be effect? Depends on severity.
Will your bone mineral density be impacted? Highly likely.




