Treatment of maxillary deficiency by miniplates: a case report

Introduction. Numerous devices have been introduced for correction of Class III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency. Aim. To assess the dentoskeletal effects of miniplates combined with Class III traction in treating Cl III malocclusion and maxillary deficiency in growing patients. Methods. This case describes the treatment of a maxillary-deficient 11-year-old boy by using miniplates. The patient's parents rejected the use of extraoral appliances and major surgical correction; therefore the treatment was done by using Class III elastics connected from two mandibular miniplates to an upper removable appliance. Two miniplates were inserted in the anterior part of the mandible in the canine areas under local anaesthesia. The treatment lasted for 10 months after which favourable correction of the malocclusion was observed. Results. The SNA and ANB angles increased by 5.1° and 4.4°, respectively. Lower 1 to mandibular plane decreased by 3.4°. Conclusions. This case demonstrates that miniplates can be a suitable method to extraoral appliances and major surgery in maxillary deficiency cases.