A Class II malocclusion with a unilateral posterior crossbite in the late deciduous
dentition is a challenging type of malocclusion to intercept. The objective is to
analyze the long-term changes in a patient with a skeletal Class II division 1 malocclusion.
A 5-year-old female child who was referred from a pediatric dentist came for consultation.
Correction of posterior crossbite involves expansion of the maxillary arch with the
aim of removal of occlusal interferences and elimination of the functional shift of
the mandible. The treatment comprised three stages: (1) Expansion of the maxillary
arch was performed with a modified Haas palatal expander and the clinical procedures
thus resulted in improved facial symmetry and satisfactory functional occlusion in
the mixed dentition (8 years 10 months). (2) Distalization of maxillary first molars
was done with a Kloehn type headgear and a lip bumper was placed in the mandible to
maintain the arch perimeter (12 years). (3) A 0.022 inch × 0.028 inch standard edgewise
fixed appliance was used for comprehensive orthodontic treatment and the objectives
were accomplished (14 years 5 months). The results showed great improvements in function
and esthetics, and posttreatment stability was good after 7 years and 5 months.
Keywords
Headgear - interception - mandibular shifting - palatal expansion