title: Orthodontic treatment of a patient with unilateral orofacial muscle dysfunction: The efficacy of myofunctional therapy on the treatment outcome.
abstract: The orofacial muscle is an important factor in the harmony of the occlusion, and its dysfunction significantly influences a patient's occlusion after craniofacial growth and development. In this case report, we describe the successful orthodontic treatment of a patient with unilateral orofacial muscle dysfunction. A boy, 10 years 0 months of age, with a chief complaint of anterior open bite, was diagnosed with a Class III malocclusion with facial musculoskeletal asymmetry. His maxillomandibular relationships were unstable, and he was unable to lift the right corner of his mouth upon smiling because of weak right orofacial muscles. A satisfactory occlusion and a balanced smile were achieved after orthodontic treatment combined with orofacial myofunctional therapy, including muscle exercises. An acceptable occlusion and facial proportion were maintained after a 2-year retention period. These results suggest that orthodontic treatment with orofacial myofunctional therapy is an effective option for a patient with orofacial muscle dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Senior assistant professor, Department of Orthodontics, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan. Electronic address: yasuyo_s@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.affiliation: Professor and chair, Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takano-Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Professor and chair, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.affiliation: Professor and chair, Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamioka
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005152:Facial Muscles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D020247:Myofunctional Therapy; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D016896:Treatment Outcome