Successful balance of occlusal plane using functional orthopedics appliance

Abstract

In this article, the treatment of two clinical cases is presented, in which the two patients showed distocclusion, severe overbite, required correction of the occlusal plane and movements of the mandible. Both were treated with functional orthopedic appliances In the first case. the patient was 4 years and 5 months old, and in second, 10 years 10 months old. Both had a significant pathological occlusal plane with a large difference in the height between the right and left sides. The lateral movements of the mandible showed completely different Functional Masticatory Angle Planes. The protrusion and opening movements of the mandible also showed deviation. The Functional Orthopedic appliance would advance the position of the mandible forward and would produce better responses if it were able to touch the incisors in the specific area. The forward mandibular position would activate the Ihh (Indian Hedgehog) and produce replication of the mesenchymal cells in the condyle and glenoid fossa. Moreover, it could produce an increase of mandibular length, and regulate the factors of mandibular condylar growth. The space produced between the occlusion as a result of the change to the forward mandible position must stimulate tooth eruption to correct the curve of the occlusal plane. Both cases showed balance of the occlusal plane and same functional masticatory angle Planes. Furthermore, the protrusion and opening movement of the mandible were corrected and no longer showed deviations. Note in both cases that the stability of the mandibular advancement occurred due to maintenance of twice as long to achieve incisor contact.