Mandibular open-close motion in children with anterior crossbite occlusion

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Anterior crossbite (ACB) is a common malocclusion in primary dentition.
• Functional characteristics of habitual mandibular motion in ACB are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize habitual mandibular open-close motion in children with primary dentition anterior crossbite.
• To compare jaw movement patterns between children with ACB and those with normal occlusion.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an optoelectronic analysis system with six degrees-of-freedom to record mandibular motion.
• Analyzed three-dimensional ranges and trajectories of mandibular incisor and condylar motion.
• Compared incisor and condylar pathways between ACB and normal occlusion groups.

Main Results:

• Children with ACB demonstrated wider jaw opening with increased anterior-posterior condylar translation and mandibular rotation.
• Greater inter-individual variance in motion variables was observed in the ACB group.
• Reduced intra-individual variance at the condyles was noted in children with ACB.

Conclusions:

• Mandibular open-close motion in children with ACB is markedly different from that in children with normal occlusion.
• Observed kinematic differences may be associated with underlying morphological variations in ACB patients.