Underbite Treatment: Understanding Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO)

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a surgical procedure used to lengthen the mandible, or lower jaw. It is typically used to correct an underbite, or prognathism, which is a condition in which the lower jaw is longer or more prominent than the upper jaw. Mandibular DO involves surgically creating a small gap in the lower jaw bone and then gradually increasing the distance between the two halves of the bone over a period of several weeks. This allows the new bone tissue to form and grow, eventually resulting in a longer mandible.