A CASE REPORT OF NON-SURGICAL ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT FOR A FACIAL ASYMMETRIC PATIENT WITH MANDIBULAR LATERAL DEVIATION

Abstract

For the treatment of adult malocclusion patients with facial asymmetry, surgical orthodontic treatment is highly recommended mainly to establish functional occlusion and improve aesthetic facial appearance. However, surgical orthodontic treatment is obtaining the consent of patients together with their family due to the restrictions this method entails, such as invasion and hospitalization associated with surgery. Improvement with orthodontic treatment alone requires “camouflage treatment,” which requires a compensatory arrangement in consideration with the inconsistency of the maxilla and mandible. The patient, woman aged 41 years and 11 months at the time of the first visit was admitted to our hospital due to a developed bad biting habit resulting in facial distortion. Standard tests and diagnoses were performed at the department, and surgical orthodontic treatment was considered. However, improvement of facial asymmetry was not desired at the request of the patient, so malocclusion ameliorated by orthodontic treatment alone was chosen as the approach. Hence, the deviation of the mandible to the right and soft tissue asymmetry was not improved. However, we report the skeletal and occlusal changes after the treatment. A change in the jaw position and occlusal position of the mandible before and after treatment was achieved, because a functional occlusion, which is the patient’s chief concern, was obtained despite the right lateral deviation. Stable occlusion and mandibular movement in the long term is also worth noting for this approach.