Abstract: A cutting guide is provided for use in human maxillofacial surgery. The cutting guide has a bowed body portion adapted to substantially surround the interior surface of the mandible. The body portion has a substantially planar bottom surface to guide a saw blade to cut the mandible in a straight line, one or more elongated pins adapted for insertion into holes created in the mandible to locate the guide in a desired position on the mandible, and a gripper adapted to be gripped by the surgeon to stabilize the guide means while the cut is performed. The body portion is adapted for placement beneath a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible to avoid contact between the saw blade and the neurovascular bundle while the cut is being made. The body portion also includes retracting means to retract the neurovascular bundle to avoid contact with the saw blade.