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Case Reports
. 2020 Sep 25;50(5):346-355.
doi: 10.4041/kjod.2020.50.5.346.

Maxillary protraction using customized mini-plates for anchorage in an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion

Shuran Liang  1 , Xianju Xie  1 , Fan Wang  1 , Qiao Chang  1 , Hongmei Wang  1 , Yuxing Bai  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Maxillary protraction using customized mini-plates for anchorage in an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion

Shuran Liang et al. Korean J Orthod. .

Abstract

The treatment of skeletal Class III malocclusion in adolescents is challenging. Maxillary protraction, particularly that using bone anchorage, has been proven to be an effective method for the stimulation of maxillary growth. However, the conventional procedure, which involves the surgical implantation of mini-plates, is traumatic and associated with a high risk. Three-dimensional (3D) digital technology offers the possibility of individualized treatment. Customized miniplates can be designed according to the shape of the maxillary surface and the positions of the roots on cone-beam computed tomography scans; this reduces both the surgical risk and patient trauma. Here we report a case involving a 12-year-old adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency that was treated in two phases. In phase 1, rapid maxillary expansion and protraction were performed using 3D-printed mini-plates for anchorage. The mini-plates exhibited better adaptation to the bone contour, and titanium screw implantation was safer because of the customized design. The orthopedic force applied to each mini-plate was approximately 400-500 g, and the plates remained stable during the maxillary protraction process, which exhibited efficacious orthopedic effects and significantly improved the facial profile and esthetics. In phase 2, fixed appliances were used for alignment and leveling of the maxillary and mandibular dentitions. The complete two-phase treatment lasted for 24 months. After 48 months of retention, the treatment outcomes remained stable.

Keywords: Customized mini-plates; Face mask; Implant design; Threedimensional printing.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pretreatment facial and intraoral photographs for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A pretreatment panoramic radiograph (A), hand-wrist radiograph (B), and lateral cephalogram (C) for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Design of customized titanium mini-plates for anchorage during facemask therapy for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Facial and intraoral photographs obtained after 10 months of facemask therapy for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency. An acceptable lateral profile and an overcorrected overjet have been achieved. The mini-plates were subsequently removed.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A lateral cephalogram obtained after facemask therapy for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Post-treatment facial and intraoral photographs (12 months after facemask therapy) for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency treated by facemask therapy and fixed appliance treatment. An improved lateral profile and a Class I occlusal relationship between the molars and canines can be observed.
Figure 7
Figure 7
A post-treatment panoramic radiograph (A), lateral cephalogram (B) and superimposed cephalometric tracing (C) for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency treated by facemask therapy and fixed appliance treatment.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Superimpositions of pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency treated by facemask therapy and fixed appliance treatment. An improvement in the skeletal discrepancy and favorable changes in the lateral soft tissue profile can be observed. The movements of the incisors and molars can also be appreciated. A, Overall superimposition between pre- (black) and post treatment (red). B, Maxillary and mandibular superimposition between pre- (black), after facemask therapy (green), and post treatment (red).
Figure 9
Figure 9
A three-dimensional color map (skeletal) generated by superimposition of pre- and post-treatment cone-beam computed tomography images for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency treated by facemask therapy and fixed appliance treatment. There is significant maxillary growth (T1, before treatment; T2, after treatment). The red and yellow areas indicate outward movements of the T2 skeletal surfaces in relation to the T1 surfaces, the blue areas indicate inward movements of the T2 surfaces relative to the T1 surfaces, and the green areas represent little or no change.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Post-retention photographs obtained 48 months after debonding for an adolescent girl with skeletal Class III malocclusion and midface deficiency treated by facemask therapy and fixed appliance treatment. The occlusal relationship and profile are stable.
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