Abstract

Adult patients presenting with skeletal discrepancies may refuse surgical intervention.

Thirty-two patients who declined orthognathic correction of their maxillo-mandibular dysplasia and who were without signs of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) were offered mandibular repositioning as a non-invasive alternative. Simulating a skeletal correction, it was explained that the approach was based on results described in case reports.

Before commencing treatment, initial records, lateral and frontal head films, study casts and photos were obtained (T0) and the mandible was repositioned to camouflage a retrognathic skeletal discrepancy or a mandibular transverse asymmetry by means of an occlusal build-up using Triad™ gel.

Three months later (T1), 23 patients had adapted to the new occlusion reflected by an absence of functional disturbance and without fracture of the composite occlusal build-up. Mandibular position in these patients was maintained by additional orthodontic treatment and an adjustment of the occlusion to the built-up postured position (T1). The skeletal changes occurring during repositioning were assessed on sagittal and frontal head films while intra-articular changes occurring during a two-year follow-up period (T2) were evaluated on images constructed from CBCT scans. No significant change, either in the direction of relapse or in the direction of further normalisation of condylar position, were observed during the two-year observation period.

Mandibular repositioning is a non-invasive intervention that may be considered a valid alternative to surgery in selected patients. Morphological variables from the radiographs taken at T0 and the results of the initial clinical evaluation of dysfunction yielded only vague and insignificant indicators regarding the predictability of the adaptation. A CBCT scan at T0 might have contributed to the identification of the patients who would likely accept the repositioning.

Details

Title
Mandibular repositioning in adult patients — an alternative to surgery? A two-year follow-up
Author
Fiorelli, Giorgio 1 ; Merlo, Paola 1 ; Dalstra, Michel 2 ; Melsen, Birte 3 

 *Department of Orthodontics, University of Siena, SienaItaly 
 †Section of Orthodontics, Institute of Odontology, Aarhus University, AarhusDenmark; +Department of Orthodontics and Pediatrics, University Center of Dental Health Basel, Basel University, BaselSwitzerland 
 ±Department of Orthodontics, Hannover University, HannoverGermany; ‡Department of Orthodontics, University of West Australia, Perth, Australia 
Pages
61-70
Publication year
2019
Publication date
2019
Publisher
De Gruyter Poland
ISSN
22077472
e-ISSN
22077480
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3155464943
Copyright
© 2019. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.