BACKGROUND AND AIM: An underdeveloped maxillary complex is a major cause of the problems underlying skeletal Class III cases. The efficiency of early orthodontic therapy is shown with reference to a treatment method acting primarily on the maxillary complex. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The collective comprised 21 patients whose orthodontic therapy at the age of 5 to 9 years was invariably started with a palatal expander. This was followed by further development of the nasomaxillary complex, using a Grummons face mask for a period ranging from 3 to 15 months. With reference to findings from plaster casts and lateral cephalograms, the efficiency of early treatment as an important part of the overall therapy concept was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean improvement in anterior overbite was 3.4 mm. The lateral cephalograms revealed a marked improvement in the distance between the upper first molars and the pterygoid vertical (+ 4.1 mm), in the convexity of A (+ 2.2 mm), and in the SNA angle (+ 2.3 degrees). CONCLUSION: Early treatment combining rapid maxillary expansion and Grummons face mask resulted in a decisive improvement in the sagittal-basal relations.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: An underdeveloped maxillary complex is a major cause of the problems underlying skeletal Class III cases. The efficiency of early orthodontic therapy is shown with reference to a treatment method acting primarily on the maxillary complex. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The collective comprised 21 patients whose orthodontic therapy at the age of 5 to 9 years was invariably started with a palatal expander. This was followed by further development of the nasomaxillary complex, using a Grummons face mask for a period ranging from 3 to 15 months. With reference to findings from plaster casts and lateral cephalograms, the efficiency of early treatment as an important part of the overall therapy concept was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean improvement in anterior overbite was 3.4 mm. The lateral cephalograms revealed a marked improvement in the distance between the upper first molars and the pterygoid vertical (+ 4.1 mm), in the convexity of A (+ 2.2 mm), and in the SNA angle (+ 2.3 degrees). CONCLUSION: Early treatment combining rapid maxillary expansion and Grummons face mask resulted in a decisive improvement in the sagittal-basal relations.