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A non-surgical technique for the treatment of upper airway obstruction in oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia using an intra-oral orthopaedic appliance is described, which resulted in respiratory and feeding problems being solved without side-effects. This noninvasive management might also be of major benefit in the treatment of airway obstruction associated with Pierre Robin sequence, mandibular micrognathia in other craniofacial anomalies, or obstructive sleep apnoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of mandibular asymmetry is presented. It appears that in this patient the mandible was adapted to changes in the maxillary sinus area. Abnormal bone growth of unknown aetiology inside the sinus most likely caused complete remodelling in the maxillary sinuses and asymmetry of the mandible. Special tests used for detailed assessment of the patient supported the definitive diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess age-related changes in sagittal jaw relationship during pre-pubertal and pubertal development on the basis of angular [ANB, anteroposterior dysplasia indicator (APDI) and A-B plane angle] and linear (Wits, AF-BF, App-Bpp, and App-Pgpp) measurements. Lateral cephalograms of orthodontically untreated subjects were evaluated at 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 years of age. Cephalometric standards and age-related changes were determined on the basis of Class I subjects with a good occlusion (n = 18, 10 males and 8 females). With respect to changes related to growth, the main findings were, in both genders, a statistically significant age-related decrease in ANB angle, App-Bpp and App-Pgpp, a significant increase in APDI, but no age-related change in Wits. A reduction of sagittal jaw distance during pre-pubertal and pubertal development was observed arising from a relative dominance of sagittal mandibular growth. For an evaluation of differences concerning jaw relationship in Class II subjects, a group with Class II division 1 malocclusions (n = 17) and a group with Class II division 2 malocclusions (n = 12 were compared with two control groups, i.e. the good occlusion group and a Class I group (n = 37). Conclusions about the sagittal discrepancy in Class II division 1 and Class II division 2 subjects depended on the geometric reference used in the various parameters, and further research is called for with respect to the diagnostic performance of the various measurements. Differences between Class II subjects and controls present at 15 years of age were already established at 7 years of age, but were less pronounced.

The aim of this study was to identify the transverse growth pattern of the craniofacial skeleton and dentition from 7 to 15 years of age. The database for this longitudinal study comprised the postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms and dental casts at 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 years of age of 18 untreated Class I subjects with good occlusion from the Belfast Growth Study. Differential magnification of the PA cephalograms was corrected using the method of similar triangles. Most of the craniofacial widths were larger in males than in females. At 15 years of age, the gender differences in craniofacial widths were more pronounced than at 7 years of age. The majority of the skeletal dimensions showed a progressive increase in width. In contrast, there was a deceleration in the increase in maxillary and mandibular intermolar widths after 11 years of age in males and even a slight decrease in the intermolar width beyond 11 years of age in females. Growth curves were calculated where the values of the respective variables were expressed in terms of percentage of attainment at 7, 9, 11 and 13 years of age when compared with 15 years of age. For mid-facial, bizygomatic and skeletal maxillo-mandibular widths, percentile attainments in the range of 84-91 per cent indicated a greater remaining growth potential at 7 years of age than for the cranial width where growth was almost complete. By the age of 7 years, over 95 per cent of the growth in the intermolar width had occurred.

The aim of the present study was to investigate putative relationships between different malocclusions such as Class III and Class II division 1, and congenital tooth anomalies. Two-hundred Class III and 215 Class II division 1 patients were examined for the presence of any of the following congenital tooth anomalies: maxillary incisor hypodontia, maxillary canine impaction, transpositions, supernumerary teeth, and tooth agenesis. Their occurrence rates were then calculated as a percentage of the total sample and were compared for statistical differences. The results revealed no statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the occurrence rates of upper lateral incisor agenesis, peg-shaped laterals, impacted canines, or supernumerary teeth between the Class III and the Class II division 1 malocclusions. When the occurrence rate of all congenital tooth anomalies was compared between the two malocclusions, Class III subjects showed significantly higher rates (P < 0.05). Comparison with published surveys on general populations showed similar occurrence rates. It can be concluded that subjects with Class III and Class II division 1 malocclusions show patterns of congenital tooth anomalies similar to those observed in the general population. Congenital tooth anomalies may represent another criterion for the study of malocclusion, with respect to their origin and development.