Abstract
Dental care for two Japanese girls who had bimaxillary protrusion caused by swallowing habits, was performed with the removable appliances.
Case 1 At 8 years-0 months of age, a removable biteplate was used for breaking the swallowing habits along with the nail biting and lip biting habits, while correcting the bimaxillary protrusion. Since her tongue protruded over the plane of the appliance, a fence was added to the biteplate at 8years-9 months of age. She used this appliance for 2 years-11 months, and the oral habits as well as the bimaxillary protrusion were corrected. After using a retainer for 1 year-9 months, the treatment was completed.
Case 2 At 8 years-11 months of age, a removable biteplate with a fence was used for breaking the swallowing habits and correcting the bimaxillary protrusion. Since the oral habit was broken at 11years-7 months of age, the fence of the biteplate was removed. She used this appliance for 4 years-1month, and the bimaxillary protrusion was corrected. She has been using a retainer and has been observed periodically.
In these two cases, habit breaking using the biteplate corrected the axial inclination of their bimaxillary incisors, and esthetically acceptable as well as functionally sufficient permanent occlusions were established.
