Abstract
In this article, a case of mandibular deformation incidental to a congenital branchial cyste under the tongue region is discussed. The surgical removal of the cyste was performed soon after birth. However, little improvement of the mandibular deformation was observed until the age of 3. when the patient visited the Orthodontic Clinic Tohoku University Dental Hospital.
The tongue was large and usually could be seen through the lips, and saliva flowed out continuously. The mouth slit was large, and when the patient was forced to close his mouth, many wrinkles appeared at the corner of the mouth. The patient suffered severe dental caries over the entire deciduous dentition except for the mandibular incisors partly because of poor oral hygiene. A severe open-bite with the contacting area only at both side deciduous second molar regions were noted. A remarkable labial inclination of the deciduous incisors and the buds of permanent incisors of the mandible were found from the Roentgenocephalogram.
Normal size and position of maxilla were observed. The mandible had a large mandibular body length, an opening tendency of mandibular plane angle and a prominent curvature of the body downward and forward.
Based on the Egyedi-Obwegeser method, tongue-ectomy was conducted. The chin cup appliance was also utilized.
Even after only seven months of treatment, remarkable improvements in facial appearance and a drastic reduction of the mandibualr deformation were already observed.
