Improvement in jaw motion following treatment of unilateral crossbite in a child with primary dentition: a case report.
This case report examines jaw motion during both habitual opening-closing and gum chewing in a young (3 years, 10 months) patient with unilateral crossbite at the primary dentition stage. Jaw motion was measured three times: 1. before treatment; 2. after active treatment; and 3. after retention. The abnormal habitual open-close pathway seen prior to treatment was improved after retention. Prior to treatment, movement of the affected-side condyle preceded movement of the non-affected-side condyle during opening. After retention, the movement of the condyles was better coordinated. The chopping type chewing pattern, with less lateral movement, before treatment changed to a more grinding type pattern on the affected side after activation. This study suggests that the prescribed treatment effectively improved both the patient's morphology and function. However, neither the open-close pathways nor the chewing patterns were completely normal after retention. The results in this case suggest that early treatment of functional unilateral crossbite can be effective.
Saitoh
Issei
I
Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Division of Oral Health, Growth, and Development, Japan.
Hayasaki
Haruaki
H
Iwase
Yoko
Y
Nakata
Minoru
M
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008409:Mastication; D009068:Movement; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous