Avoidance of implicit hazards: the realignment of maxillary and mandibular arches in comminuted and facial fractures

The authors introduce an attempt to elevate the problem of proper realignment of the maxillary and mandibular arches to achieve an exact transversal width of the lower third of the face with an index of the sum of the maxillary and mandibular central incisors, together with a new Artex-Callotte System (Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany). This allows individual and anatomically correct restoration of the dental arches. This is especially helpful if either a large number of teeth or portions of dental alveolar processes have been lost in comminuted panfacial fractures. In addition, a sequential, step-management concept of comminuted panfacial fractures is described and illustrated. The goals of treatment with this method are to reestablish the midfacial height and projection and the occlusion, and reestablish the integrity of the nose, the orbit, and the transversal dimension of the lower jaw. This simple method is not yet well appreciated.