A novel method of maxillary deficiency treatment by tongue plate--a case report

This case illustrates the treatment of a 6-year-old girl with Class III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency. The patient was treated by a tongue plate in the upper jaw. The tongue plate had two Adams clasps on the first maxillary molars, two C clasps on the deciduous maxillary canines and an acrylic plate posterior to the maxillary incisors. The active treatment lasted for 24 months after which favorable correction of the malocclusion was observed. The SNA angle increased by 4 degrees and the IMPA decreased by 11 degrees. This case demonstrates that tongue plate might be an alternative method to extraoral appliances in Class III and maxillary deficient cases.