Atypical deglutition: diagnosis and interceptive treatment. A clinical study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early treatment of atypical deglutition, by analysing the efficacy of the eruptive guide appliance Habit Corrector™. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pre- and post-treatment (T1 and T2) cephalometric data of 2 groups of patients (G1 and G2), both consisting of 25 patients each and treated with Habit Corrector™, were compared. The first group included 10 males and 15 females, aged between 4 and 7 years old, with average age 6.17 years, and therefore undergoing the last phase of primary dentition and the first phase of mixed dentition. The second group included 12 males and 13 females, aged between 8 and 12 years old, with average age 9.19 years old, undergoing the second phase of mixed dentition. The overall duration of the treatment was 12 months. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences between the two groups, with respect to overbite, overjet, molar relation, inclination of the upper and lower incisors, position of the jaw. A significant variation between the two groups at T2 was registered for the maxillomandibular relationships: the increase in the growth and degree of mandibular protrusion was of 4.66° in G1 and 2.44° in G2. Significant changes were registered for the position or growth of the upper jaw; the upper facial height almost remained unaltered, with 53.34° for G1 and with 53.96° for G2. A significant variation occurred with the increase in the sagittal relationship between the molars, improved in G1 by 3.14 mm and in G2 by 2.61 mm. A significant decrease of overjet was registered in G1 by 1.94 mm and in G2 by 0.76 m and an increase of overbite in G1 by 3.14 mm and in G2 by 0.88 mm. The inclination of the maxillary and mandibular incisors improved, with an inter-incisive angle of 123° in G1 and 124.2° in G2. CONCLUSION: The clinical results obtained suggest that early intervention in atypical deglutition with Habit Corrector™ is able to produce significant results in primary dentition and in the first phase of mixed dentition, rather than in the late phase of mixed dentition.

Patients treated with orthodontic-myofunctional therapeutic protocol.

AIM: The aim of this study is to report three cases that needed myofunctional and orthodontic treatment and the good results achieved after the therapy. Orthodontic treatment alone, in presence of bad habits, is not enough to solve the orthodontic issues, so it needs to be combined with myofunctional treatment.

Skeletal Class III and anterior open bite treatment with different retention protocols: a report of three cases.

The treatment of skeletal class III and anterior open bite can be unstable and orthodontists frequently observe relapse. Here, we report on the management of three patients with skeletal class III profiles and open bites treated by orthodontic camouflage. Each received a retention protocol involving the use of two separate appliances during the night and day accompanied by myofunctional therapy. Long-term follow-up revealed a stable outcome.

Anterior open bite correction using bite block: a case report.

Several etiological factors that result in dental and/or skeletal alterations make the open bite a type of malocclusion with several treatment alternatives. Corrective fixed orthodontics in conjunction with mechanical or functional orthopedics is a routine approach in correcting this problem. However, orthosurgical treatment must never be discarded for cases with skeletal involvement. This article describes a clinical case which, despite involving skeletal aspects, was treated satisfactorily using a passive bite-block appliance in conjunction with corrective fixed orthodontics.

Non surgical treatment of a Class II malocclusion with skeletal hyperdivergency and anterior open bite.

The malocclusions with hyperdivergent vertical growth patterns are more difficult to treat without a combined approach, including orthodontics and orthodontic surgery. The goal of this article is to describe a nonsurgical approach of a Class II malocclusion on an adult patient presenting a skeletal hyperdivergency. Fundamental criteria must be respected including proper diagnosis, proper treatment timing to maximize growth potential, patient cooperation, etc. These factors are critical in the favorable treatment outcome of any jaw discrepancy.

Long-term outcome in a patient with a dentoskeletal open-bite malocclusion treated without extraction.

This case report describes the treatment of a patient with a Class II malocclusion with an anterior open bite. The patient, a girl 16 years of age, had a significant anteroposterior discrepancy and a high-angle tendency. Her face was convex, with competent lips. Intraorally she had an anterior open bite of 3 mm, space in the mandibular arch, and an overjet of 2 mm. High-pull headgear, anterior intermaxillary elastics, and appropriate wire bending were used to close the bite and to correct the anteroposterior dental relationship. Modification of a tongue thrust habit helped to correct this significant malocclusion and provided stability at 11 years posttreatment.

Nonextraction and nonsurgical treatment of an adult with skeletal Class II open bite with severe retrognathic mandible and temporomandibular disorders.

AIM: The treatment of an adult patient with a skeletal Class II Division 1 malocclusion, retrognathic mandible with downward and backward rotation, anterior open bite, and temporomandibular disorders is presented. Treatment objectives included establishing a stable occlusion with normal respiration, eliminating temporomandibular disorder symptoms, and improving facial esthetics through nonextraction and nonsurgical treatment. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The patient was a Japanese adult female, who had previously been advised to have orthognathic surgery. An expansion plate was used to reshape the maxillary dentoalveolar arch. Distalization of the maxillary arch and forward movement of the mandible were achieved by reduced excessive posterior occlusal vertical dimension, through uprighting and intruding the mandibular posterior teeth, and rotating the mandible slightly upward and forward. The functional occlusal plane was reconstructed by uprighting and intruding the mandibular posterior teeth with a full-bracket appliance, combined with a maxillary expansion plate and short Class II elastics. Myofunctional therapy and masticatory and cervical muscle training involved chewing gum exercises and neck-muscle massage. RESULTS: The excessive posterior vertical occlusal dimension was significantly reduced, creating a small clearance between the posterior maxilla and mandible. The occlusal interferences in the posterior area were eliminated by the expansion of the maxillary dentoalveolar arch. As a result, the mandible moved forward, creating a more favorable jaw relationship. Distal movement of the maxillary arch was also achieved. The functional occlusal plane was reconstructed and a normal overjet and overbite were created. Adequate tongue space for normal respiration was established during the early stage of treatment. A stable occlusion with adequate posterior support and anterior guidance was established in a treatment time of 25 months, without orthognathic surgery, extraction, or headgear; this result was maintained at more than 1 year 8 months posttreatment.