Early functional mandibular deviation corrected by maxillary expansion

    LI Nan£¬DUAN Yinª²Zhong£¬GENG Chunª²Yan£¬HE Yuª²Hong

    Department of Orthodontics, College of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University£¬Xi¬ðan 710033£¬China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To confirm that the correction of functional posterior crossbite through maxillary expansion is associated with changes in mandibular deviation. METHODS: Sixteen unilateral crossbite patients of mixed and early permanent dentitions with mandibular asymmetry were treated by maxillary expansion (Quadª²Helix). Posteroanterior cephalometric analysis was conducted before and after treatment. All data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: After the correction of unilateral crossbite by maxillary expansion, the asymmetry of bilateral mandible improved significantly. The bilateral mandibular difference of total length decreased remarkably (P<0.01). The bilateral mandibular difference of body length also decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Early treatment of unilateral crossbite by maxillary expansion improves early functional mandible deviation. ......