Osseointegrated implants as an adjunct to facemask therapy: a case report

Branemark Implants were placed in the zygomatic buttresses of the maxilla in a 12-year and 1-month-old female patient with a Class III malocclusion caused by maxillary growth retardation secondary to repair of a unilateral cleft lip and palate defect. The implants were left to integrate for 6 months followed by placement of customized abutments that projected into the buccal sulcus. Elastic traction (400 g per side) was applied from a facemask to the implants at 30 degrees to the occlusal plane for 14 hours per day for 8 months (ages 12 years and 10 months to 13 years and 6 months). The maxilla moved downward and forward 4 mm rotating anteriorly as it was displaced. The change in the maxillary occlusal plane resulted in a secondary opening of the mandible. There was a 2 degrees increase in the SN-mandibular plane angle and an increase in nasion to menton distance of 9 mm. Clinically, this resulted in an increase in fullness of the infraorbital region and correction of the pretreatment mandibular prognathism. There was an increase in nasal prominence as the maxilla advanced. This contributed to the increase in facial convexity. The secondary dental change frequently seen in standard facemask therapy was avoided. The displacement of the maxilla was stable 1 year beyond cessation of facemask therapy. The patient's midface profile was improved by age of 13 years and 6 months. Details of the clinical procedure and treatment changes are presented.