title: Malocclusion in the primary dentition in children with and without deformational plagiocephaly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asymmetries of the jaw and orthodontic abnormalities are suspected as long-term consequences of positional cranial deformity. But only few data exist on this issue. As plagiocephaly is a common problem in infancy, potential functional impairments should be investigated to initiate appropriate measures if necessary. The aim of our study was to compare the orthodontic situation in primary dentition of children with positional plagiocephaly and children without cranial deformities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty children treated by helmet therapy for plagiocephaly and 50 non-affected children (age 1.98-5.69 years) were examined in a cross-sectional study. Orthodontic parameters of all dimensions were assessed and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children of the plagiocephalic group showed more often orthodontic alterations compared to the others. Especially the frequencies of a class II malocclusion (36 vs. 14 %), an edge-to edge bite (28 vs. 12 %), and deviations of the midline (38 vs. 16 %) were conspicuous. However, none of the differences was significant (p > 0.003). Of all observed mandibular asymmetries, 69 % appeared as a shift to the contralateral side of the former flattened occipital region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positional head deformity might be associated in some cases with a higher prevalence of occlusal abnormalities in primary dentition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positional plagiocephaly interfaces medicine and dentistry. As it is a common disorder, this etiology has to be considered in the prevention and therapy of malocclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany. susanne.kluba@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kluba
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roßkopf
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kraut
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calgeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegmar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krimmel
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049068:Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
keywords: Helmet therapy; Malocclusion; Positional plagiocephaly; Primary dentition