[Evaluation on facial pattern of early childhood patients with T.M.J. dysfunction occurred after anterior crossbite...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the facial pattern of early childhood patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction (clicking) occurred after anterior cross-bite correction. Chincap appliance was engaged in all cases, with or without minor intraoral mechano-therapy. Materials were consisted of lateral and postero-anterior cephalograms of 50 japanese patients (6-9 years old), all showing anterior cross-bite with normal function of TMJ at pre-treatment stage. They were consisted of two groups, one was the group of 22 patients with TMJ dysfunction occurred after cross-bite correction and the other was the control group of 28 patients with no TMJ problem. Morphological measurements were done and compared between two groups. The results were as follows: 1) There was no significant difference between the TMJ group and the control group from the lateral facial pattern. 2) The upper and middle facial skeleton were symmetry in both groups, but the maxillary alveolar legion (CMo, U 1) of TMJ group was significantly from the antero-posterior view. 3) On the lower face (mandible) of the TMJ group, it was pointed out that the position of Gonion was significantly asymmetry and L 1 point and Menton were disclosed to have severe lateral displacement. It was cleared that a high incidence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction was found in mandibular asymmetry cases. It was concluded that a careful case-management is required for mandibular asymmetry patients during chicap-orthodontic therapy.