[Changes of frontal facial form occurred after correction of anterior reversed occlusion in children with TMJ dysfunction].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the facial pattern of early childhood patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction (clicking) occurred after anterior cross-bite correction. Chin cap appliance was engaged in all cases, with or without minor intraoral mechano-therapy. Materials were consisted of postero-anterior cephalograms of 50 Japanese patients (6-9 years old), all showing anterior cross-bite with normal function of TMJ at pre-treatment stage. They were consisted of two groups, one was the group of 22 patients with TMJ dysfunction occurred after cross-bite correction and the other was the control group of 28 patients with no TMJ problem. Morphological measurements were done and compared between two groups at pre-treatment stage and after cross-bite correction stage. The results were as follows: 1. In many cases, the TMJ dysfunction was found at about 6 months later after anterior cross-bite correction. 2. It was cleared that the facial pattern of the TMJ dysfunction group showed asymmetry at pre-treatment stage and the same trend of asymmetry pattern continued after cross-bite correction. In conclusion, it was suggested that the TMJ dysfunction tends to occur in mandibular asymmetry patients after cross-bite correction stage because of the dynamic changes of occlusion and mandibular position.