[Role of posture in the etiopathogenesis of asymmetry and flexibility of therapeutic approach].

In the orthodontic evaluation of the cranio-cervical region, the relation between the form and the function is very important, specially if we consider the most frequent component of the modification of the armony of the system, the asymmetries, that we can classify as skeletal, functional and mixed. In this regards, the cervico-cranio-mandibular posture is a very important factor very often associated with the proper function of the respiratory system. The different factors, as cervical, nasal, temporo-mandibular and dento-alveolar are considered. On this basic approach, a diagnostic procedure is presented, in order to obtain a complete evaluation of the patient by considering the dental and skeletal age, the amount of compensation, the presence of the signs and symptoms of the dysfunction. We obtain a therapeutic procedure that must be individualized: the most important times of the treatment are the interceptive approach, followed by the orthodontics steps and finally, the reevaluation of the results. The guide line of these steps are mostly a continuous monitoring of the symptoms, the priority of the sequences of the treatment, the use of a repositioning splint and a selective biomechanics. Four cases are presented at different ages, with asymmetries, on which the posture play an important role. The treatment procedures and the satisfactory results show the possibility of an interceptive approach of the asymmetries, at least of the postural component in the adult patient, and the important role of the orthodontist in the treatment of these malocclusions.