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(Fig. 12) Facial view of
patient I. before treatment
(Fig. 16) Facial view of
patient I. after treatment
(Fig. 13) Retracted view before treatment
(Fig. 17) Retracted view after treatment
(Fig. 14) Retracted view
of left side occlusion before
treatment
(Fig. 18) Retracted view
of left side occlusion after
treatment
(Fig. 15) Maxillary models before and after orthodontic phase
of treatment
is creating proper relationships inside TMJ, subsequently
eliminating the majority of TMJ issues.
a dentofacial orthopedics approach regardless of age
of the patient. The changes undergone by patient’s
faces, the size of the jaws and the occlusion and teeth
position cannot be explained by simple tooth movement
but rather by response of the alveolar bone as a
“whole”. Orthopedic changes in patient’s jaws and
their relationships are generally responsible for overall
improvement in facial appearance, correlations of the
condyles and discs inside TMJ and the creation of much
better groundwork for subsequent restorative procedures.
The scientific evidence for the new dentofacial orthopedic
approach is coming from work of Melsen, 9,10 and
Cacciafesta, 11 who advocate that the dentoalveolar
complex is much more malleable than previously believed.
Michael O. Williams and Neal C. Murphy have introduced
the concept of “whole bone” perspective to the alveolar
bone response to continuous low orthopedic force. 12
The cases presented in this article show that the
remodeling and redevelopment of the patient’s facial
and dentoalveolar structures can be performed using
(Fig. 19) Patient’s O. CT scan: maxillary transverse view after
treatment
Smile Dental Journal | Volume 6, Issue 4 - 2011| 29 |