Corticotomy-assisted maxillary protraction with skeletal anchorage and Class III elastics

Correction of late adolescent skeletal Class III using the Alt-RAMEC protocol and skeletal anchorage

This case report describes skeletal anchorage-supported maxillary protraction performed with the Alternate Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Constriction (Alt-RAMEC) protocol over a treatment duration of 14 months in a 16-year-old female patient who was in the late growth-development period. Miniplates were applied to the patient's aperture piriformis area to apply force from the protraction appliance. After 9 weeks of following the Alt-RAMEC protocol, miniplates were used to transfer a unilateral 500-g protraction force to a Petit-type face mask. A significant improvement was observed in the soft tissue profile in measurements made both cephalometrically and in three dimensional photographs. Subsequently, the second phase of fixed orthodontic treatment was started and the treatment was completed with the retention phase. Following treatment completion, occlusion, smile esthetics, and soft tissue profile improved significantly in response to orthopedic and orthodontic treatment.

Does surgically assisted maxillary protraction with skeletal anchorage and Class III elastics affect the pharyngeal airway? A retrospective, long-term study

Objective

Surgically assisted maxillary protraction is an alternative protocol in severe Class III cases or after the adolescent growth spurt involving increased maxillary advancement. Correction of the maxillary deficiency has been suggested to improve pharyngeal airway dimensions. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to analyze the airway changes cephalometrically following surgically assisted maxillary protraction with skeletal anchorage and Class III elastics.

Methods

The study population consisted of 15 Class III patients treated with surgically assisted maxillary protraction combined with skeletal anchorage and Class III elastics (mean age: 12.9 ± 1.2 years). Growth changes were initially assessed for a mean of 5.5 ± 1.6 months prior to treatment. Airway and skeletal changes in the control (T0), pre-protraction (T1), post-protraction (T2), and follow-up (T3) periods were monitored and compared using lateral cephalometric radiographs. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

The skeletal or airway parameters showed no statistically significant changes during the control period. Sella to nasion angle, N perpendicular to A, Point A to Point B angle, and Frankfort plane to mandibular plane angle increased significantly during the maxillary protraction period (p < 0.05), but no significant changes were observed in airway parameters (p > 0.05). No statistically significant changes were observed in the airway parameters in the follow-up period either. However, Sella to Gonion distance increased significantly (p < 0.05) during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

No significant changes in pharyngeal airway parameters were found during the control, maxillary protraction, and follow-up periods. Moreover, the significant increases in the skeletal parameters during maxillary protraction were maintained in the long-term.

Clear aligner treatment for a four-year-old patient with anterior cross-bite and facial asymmetry: A case report

BACKGROUND

Clear aligners have been widely used to treat malocclusions from crowding, extraction cases to orthodontic-orthognathic cases, and practitioners are exploring the border of it. For the first time, clear aligners were used to early intervene anterior cross-bite and facial asymmetry.

CASE SUMMARY

This case report described a four-year-old child presented with anterior cross-bite and facial asymmetry associated with functional mandibular shift, who had undergone a failed treatment with conventional appliances. The total treatment time was 18 weeks, and a stable outcome was obtained.

CONCLUSION

The increasing need in early treatment highlights the need for clinicians to thoroughly investigate for the patient regarding clinical manifestation as well as patient compliance. We hope that our case will be contemplated by clinicians when seeking for treatment alternatives.

Comparative efficacy of the bone-anchored maxillary protraction protocols for orthopaedic treatment in skeletal Class III malocclusion: A Bayesian network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the treatment effects of five bone-anchored maxillary protraction protocols (BAC3E, BAMP, BARME-FM, BARME-ME, SAFM) for skeletal Class III malocclusion.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search through CENTRAL, EBSCO, PubMed and Web of Science and included the randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials, which met the criteria. A Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) for SNA, SNB, ANB, SN-MP and Wits appraisal was performed in R software using a random consistency model. The additional analyses included node-splitting analysis, statistical heterogeneity analysis, sensitivity analysis and ranking probability by SUCRA.

RESULTS

A total of 598 articles were initially obtained; 13 articles involving 482 individuals were eventually included. Among the five bone-anchored maxillary protraction protocols, the largest increment in SNA and Wits appraisal was observed in the BAMP group and BAC3E group, respectively; the SAFM, BAC3E and BAMP groups showed similar capability in terms of changes of ANB; least clockwise rotation of the mandible was found in the BARME-ME group, followed by the BAMP group; dental compensation appears to be most pronounced in the BAC3E group; and intermaxillary traction seems to reduce the lingual inclination of lower incisors and even cause labial inclination.

CONCLUSIONS

The SAFM, BAMP and BAC3E groups seem to be advantageous in the improvement of the maxillo-mandibular relationship, followed by the BARME-FM and BARME-ME groups. The findings of this study should be interpreted with caution as only short-term effects were compared and the quality of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. More RCTs with high-quality and long-term investigation are needed.

Management of skeletal Class III with facial asymmetry using skeletal anchorage: 4-year follow-up

Introduction:

Skeletal Class III malocclusion with asymmetry is one of the most difficult problems to correct in orthodontics. A functional shift of the mandible in growing patients may occur accompanying a Class III, due to constricted maxillary arch and occlusal interferences. Studies have indicated that posterior unilateral crossbite develops early and has a low rate of spontaneous correction. It may further lead to development of mandibular and facial asymmetry by growth and displacement of mandible if left untreated in growing patients.

Objective:

This article reports the clinical case of a thirteen-year-old female patient in CVMI transition stage that had maxillary hypoplasia with a developing facial asymmetry. Results: The case was successfully managed with bone-anchored facemask therapy and with elimination of occlusal interferences with guided occlusion. Reverse twin block in the retention phase maintained the results achieved.

Conclusion:

A four-year follow-up evaluation revealed successful maintenance of the treatment results.

A Bayesian network meta-analysis of orthopaedic treatment in Class III malocclusion: Maxillary protraction with skeletal anchorage or a rapid maxillary expander

To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of orthopaedic treatment for Class III malocclusions using skeletal anchorage or a rapid maxillary expander for maxillary protraction. Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized clinical trials (CCTs) for orthopaedic treatment of Class III malocclusions. Five interventions were studied: a facemask with a maxillary temporary anchorage device (MTAD), a bone-anchored rapid maxillary expansion (BARME), a rapid maxillary expansion (RME), an alternate rapid maxillary expansion and contraction (Alt-RAMEC), and a bone-anchored intermaxillary traction (BAIMT). Eight outcomes (SNA, SNB, ANB, overjet, SN-GoGn, ANS-Me, IMPA (L1-MP), and U1-PP) were statistically polled. We conducted network meta-analysis using R statistical software with the GeMTC package. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the RME group, the Alt-RAMEC group (mean difference (MD): 1.3; 95% credibility interval (CrI): 0.26, 2.3) and MTAD group (MD: 0.85; 95% CrI: 0.065, 1.6) showed a better effect on ANB in CCTs. Regarding the vertical relationship, the BAIMT group (MD: -2.2; 95% CrI: -5.2, 0.73) showed a smaller effect regarding increasing the vertical dimension of ANS-Me. The RME, MTAD and Alt-RAMEC group showed a higher ability to decrease the angle of L1-MP. The Alt-RAMEC and MTAD protocol have a higher possibility to obtain a skeletal and tooth effect in sagittal relationships. The BAIMT protocol can acquire a better skeletal effect in sagittal relationships with less vertical and dental changes. More well-designed RCTs are needed to ensure that the conclusion is reliable.

Effects of Different Timing of Alveolar Bone Graft on Craniofacial Morphology in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of the timing of secondary alveolar bone graft (SABG) on craniofacial morphology in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

DESIGN

Single-center retrospective assessment of consecutively treated nonsyndromic patients with complete UCLP.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred sixty-seven patients (108 males, 59 females) with complete UCLP in whom the cleft was repaired with 1-stage method at approximately 8 months of age. The age of 128 patients at SABG varied from 1.4 to 11.5 years (SABG group), while 39 patients still awaited SABG at the moment of cephalometric evaluation (no-SABG group).

METHODS

Craniofacial morphology was assessed on lateral cephalograms taken at 10 years of age (standard deviation = 0.8; range: 7.5-12.3) using linear and angular measurements. T tests and regression models were made to analyze data.

RESULTS

Regression models demonstrated that the effect of SABG on the craniofacial morphology was limited-cephalometric variables which were statistically significantly different between SABG and no-SABG groups showed no association with the timing of SABG when (1) age of primary repair of the cleft, (2) age of cephalometric evaluation, (3) cleft side, (4) gender, and (5) operator were controlled for. Only the length of the maxilla (Condylion-point A) was affected-1-year delay of SABG corresponded with an increase in Co-point A distance by 0.52 mm. However, adjusted R ² of the model was 0.11.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings cautiously indicate that SABG performed before 8 years of age can have limited negative effect on craniofacial morphology. Nevertheless, our results should be confirmed by cleft centers practicing alternative surgical repairs of the cleft.

Is It Possible to Protract the Maxilla by Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Intermaxillary Class III Elastics?

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate skeletal and soft tissue changes with surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) and intermaxillary Class III elastics.

Methods

A total of 15 patients (mean age: 19.58 years) were included in the study. Each patient underwent SARME with the use of Class III elastics (500 g) applied through miniscrews to stimulate maxillary advancement. Lateral cephalograms and posteroanterior radiographs obtained before treatment (T1), after SARME and elastic use (T2), and after treatment (T3) were analyzed to determine the changes in each phase of treatment. Planimeter was used to evaluate facial soft tissue changes. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate the changes that occur during treatment.

Results

SARME provided permanent and efficient maxillary expansion at both skeletal and dental levels (p<0.01). Maxillary skeletal (ANS-Ver and U1i-Ver; p<0.01) and soft tissue (Pr-Ver, Sn-Ver, and ULA-Ver; p<0.01) variables and superior upper labial area (Area 1; p<0.05) increased due to maxillary dental and skeletal changes. Superior lower labial area (Area 3; p<0.05) decreased as a result of slight increase in facial height and changes in maxillary-mandibular incisor relationship at the end of the treatment.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the improvement in the facial profiles of the patients is related to the significant increase in the bony and dental support of the upper lip region together with the contribution of the superior lower lip area.

Treatment Options for Class III Malocclusion in Growing Patients with Emphasis on Maxillary Protraction

It is very difficult to diagnose and treat Class III malocclusion. This type of malocclusion involves a number of cranial base and maxillary and mandibular skeletal and dental compensation components. In Class III malocclusion originating from mandibular prognathism, orthodontic treatment in growing patients is not a good choice and in most cases orthognathic surgery is recommended after the end of growth. Approximately 30-40% of Class III patients exhibit some degree of maxillary deficiency; therefore, devices can be used for maxillary protraction for orthodontic treatment in early mixed dentition. In cases in which dental components are primarily responsible for Class III malocclusion, early therapeutic intervention is recommended. An electronic search was conducted using the Medline database (Entrez PubMed), the Cochrane Collaboration Oral Health Group Database of Clinical Trials, Science Direct, and Scopus. In this review article, we described the treatment options for Class III malocclusion in growing patient with an emphasis on maxillary protraction. It seems that the most important factor for treatment of Class III malocclusion in growing patient is case selection.

Comparison of short-term effects between face mask and skeletal anchorage therapy with intermaxillary elastics in patients with maxillary retrognathia

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare the short-term dental and skeletal effects of a face mask (FM) with those of skeletal anchorage (SA) therapy with intermaxillary elastics in prepubertal patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion.

METHODS

Fifty patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency were divided into two groups. In the FM group, an FM was applied by a bite plate with a force of 400g for each side. In the SA group, mini-plates were placed between mandibular lateral incisors and canines, and mini-implants were inserted between maxillary second premolars and first molars. A bite plate was inserted into the upper arch, and Class III elastics were applied with a force of 200g between each mini-plate and mini-implant.

RESULTS

Mean treatment durations were 0.52±0.09 years for FM and 0.76±0.09 years for SA. After the treatment, statistically significant increases in SNA°, ANB°, A-y, 1-NA, SnGoGn°, Co-A, Co-Gn, and A-Nperp, and reductions in SNB° and FH┴N-Pg were observed in both groups, and these changes were similar in both groups. In the FM group, 1-NB decreased significantly, and in the SA group, it increased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The undesired dentoalveolar effects of the FM treatment were eliminated with SA treatment, except with regard to lower incisor inclination. Favourable skeletal outcomes can be achieved by SA therapies, which could be an alternative to the extraoral appliances frequently applied to treat skeletal Class III patients with maxillary deficiency.