[Orthodontic care of children with special pathology]

Children with special pathology, such as clefts and scoliosis, must be managed at a special centre until a comprehensive treatment strategy has been developed and appropriate therapeutic measures undertaken. Examinations were performed in 375 children, who were then distributed into three groups: patients with clefts (group A), scoliosis (group B) and no special pathology (group C). Monomaxillary therapy was used most frequently in the group with clefts and bimaxillary therapy in the group with scoliosis. In patients with scoliosis extractions of permanent teeth should be avoided in order to preserve a maximum number of occlusal units, since they transmit forces from the brace to the skull, especially during sleep. Groups A and C revealed an increase in the number of adults, including new patients and patients who resumed treatment after it had been interrupted. These patients are very cooperative and the results of corrective treatment are extremely favourable.