Craniofacial growth in children affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis involving the temporomandibular joint: functional therapy management.
The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to asses the effects of a functional appliance on condyles damaged by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). and 2) to evaluate its ability to reduce alterations in craniofacial development.


METHODS
Seventy-two JIA patients with temporomandibular involvement, ages ranging between 4 and 16 years, were treated. All of them presented temporomandibular joint involvement. They were treated with an activator and followed for 4 years.


RESULTS
At the second examination, it was possible to observe a reduction in mandibular retrusion and in the sagittal discrepancy between mandible and maxilla, a reduction in the angle of divergence, a counterclockwise rotation of the mandible, a reduction of the gonial angle, a longer mandibular ramus, a reduction in the discrepancy between anterior and posterior height caused by an increase in posterior height and a forward positioning of the chin.


CONCLUSIONS
The functional appliance reduces the severity of facial alterations improving mandibular and condylar growth.
Farronato
Giampietro
G
Department of Orthodontics, The University of Milan, Italy. giampietro.farronato@unimi.it
Carletti
Vera
V
Maspero
Cinzia
C
Farronato
Davide
D
Giannini
Lucia
L
Bellintani
Claudio
C
D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D020247:Myofunctional Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D011859:Radiography; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy