Early orthodontic treatment refers to the orthodontic treatment of dental-maxillofacial deformities in the early deciduous or mixed dentition. More and more attentions has been paid to early orthodontic treatment. Many kinds of orthodontic appliances are emerging on the market with the rapid development of the orthodontic technology. At the same time, problems and increased risks have followed in early orthodontic treatment. The contents of the article include the establishment of deciduous occlusion and the characteristics of the deciduous dentition, the orthodontic principles of different stages of deciduous dentition, the oral bad habits during the deciduous dentition and the risk control of early orthodontic treatment.
Dental Occlusion ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Tooth, Deciduous

Children in the mixed dentition grow rapidly, and various types of malocclusion often appear in this period. At the same time, there are many environmental factors affecting the development of the occlusion at this stage. Functional abnormalities related to lip, tongue, articulation and breathing, and impacted teeth should be actively intervened and blocked to avoid the continued development of the deformity. Appropriate orthopedic devices should be used in patients with skeletal malocclusion, if necessary, for growth modification and the influence of congenital factors and the prognosis of treatment should be fully evaluated. Over-intervention of the temporary malocclusions in the mixed dentition should be avoided. In conclusion, early orthodontic treatment in the mixed dentition requires a comprehensive assessment of the treatment need, risks, timing, cost and the ultimate benefit of the patient. The timing of orthodontic treatment is not the sooner the better. The indications must be strictly controlled, and the necessity and limitations must be carefully considered.
Child ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Tongue ; Tongue Habits ; Tooth, Impacted

The early orthodontic treatment of malocclusion includes the growth modification of skeletal discrepancy, preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment of the dental malocclusion or oral habit. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment is to guide the normal dento-maxillafacial growth and development, eliminate the adverse effect on function of masticatory system and the health of dental and periodontal tissues. Most of the patients in the early permanent dentition are still in their pubertal growth period. Although all kind of comprehensive orthodontic treatment could be started from early permanent dentition, early orthodontic treatment can still be used in the cases such as class Ⅱ malocclusion caused by underdevelopment of mandible and crossbite caused by underdevelopment of maxilla in the early permanent dentition. The article will discuss class Ⅱ malocclusion caused by underdevelopment of mandible and anterior and posterior crossbite caused by underdevelopment of maxilla which are feasible for early orthodontic treatment.
Dentition, Mixed ; Dentition, Permanent ; Humans ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II/therapy* ; Maxilla

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to explore the innervation of the anterior hard palatine and its relationship with individual development stage. Specifically, the effects of anesthesia on patients of different ages were observed, and neurodevelopment in the maxillofacial region was invesitgated. References that are helpful in selecting local anesthesia were provided. METHODS: A total of 182 patients with mixed dentition were randomly divided into the nasopalatine nerve block and greater palatine nerve block groups. Then, 219 patients with permanent dentition were divided into an adolescent group (13-18 years old) and adult group (over 19 years old), all of whom underwent bilateral greater palatine nerve block. Palatal mucosal pain sensation was tested pre- and post-anesthesia with Von Frey hairs. RESULTS: Among the children with mixed dentition, bilateral greater palatine nerve block tended to result in better anesthetic effects than nasopalatine nerve block ( CONCLUSIONS The sensation of the anterior hard palatine seems mainly dominated by the greater palatine nerve until mixed dentition and gradually shifted to the nasopalatine nerve in conjunction with maxillary development and tooth replacement. Hence, the innervation of the anterior hard palatine induce a secondary development during the development of the maxilla.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Nerve ; Nerve Block ; Palate ; Palate, Hard ; Young Adult

This study aimed to evaluate skeletodental characteristics of patient with maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) in mixed dentition.It involved the children in early mixed dentition who visited Pusan National University dental hospital for orthodontic purposed and had intact primary canines. 38 children with MLIA and 38 controls with the same chronological age satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. The craniofacial structures and dental arch dimensions of the MLIA were evaluated using model & cephalometric analysis and compared to controls.The rate of unilateral MLIA was high in male and the rate of bilateral MLIA was high in female. In model analysis, the width / length ratio of maxillary anterior portion of the MLIA group were higher and arch perimeter of the maxilla of the MLIA group were smaller than those of the control group (p = 0.003, 0.04). Cephalometric analysis showed that there were no significant differences in terms of skeletal, dental analysis. In soft tissue profile, nasolabial angle was larger in MLIAs than in controls (p = 0.039).Considering these skeletodental characteristics of MLIA, early diagnosis and proper management is highly recommended to minimize the possibility of functional defect.
Busan ; Child ; Dental Arch ; Dentition, Mixed ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Maxilla

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of mouth-breathing on maxillary arch development by comparing the palatal morphology of mouth- and nose-breathing children in mixed dentition. METHODS: Children in mixed dentition were enrolled and categorized into mouth-breathing (test group) and nose-breathing groups (control group) according to their breathing patterns. Children's plaster models were scanned with 3D laser scanner, and the 3D data were reconstructed and measured using Minics 15.0 and Geomagic 12.0 software. Measurement data (inter-molar width, palatal height, palatal volume, and palatal surface area) of the two groups were compared, and the correlation among the four measurement items was analyzed. RESULTS: The participants were 73 children (37 in test group and 36 in control group) with a mean age of (8.63±0.78) years old. The test group had significantly smaller inter-molar width, palatal volume, and palatal surface area but significantly higher palatal height than the control group (P<0.05). Inter-molar width and palatal volume were positively correlated with the palatal surface area in the test group (P<0.05). Inter-molar width and palatal height were positively correlated with the palatal surface area in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Mouth-breathing children have significantly reduced inter-molar width, palatal volume, and surface, and substantially increased palatal height, leading to different developmental patterns of the palatal morphology.
Child ; Dental Arch ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Mouth Breathing ; Palate

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the inclinations of the incisors and lips in mixed dentition aged 7 – 11 years. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 353 children were analyzed to measure the upper incisor inclination, lower incisor inclination, lower-nasolabial angle, and mentolabial angle in relation to the skeletal malocclusion classification. The measurements were then assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis.There were significant negative correlations between the inclination of the upper incisors and lower-nasolabial angle in all classes of skeletal malocclusion. There was a negative correlation between the inclination of the lower incisors and mentolabial angle; however, class Ⅱ malocclusion had a significant positive correlation.This study identified the factors that affect lip inclination and verified their associations.
Child ; Classification ; Dentition, Mixed ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip ; Malocclusion

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of an image processing technique on diagnostic accuracy of digital panoramic radiographs for the assessment of anatomical structures in paediatric patients with mixed dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of 50 digital panoramic radiographs of children aged from 6 to 12 years, which were later on processed using a dedicated image processing method. A modified clinical image quality evaluation chart was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of anatomical structures in maxillary and mandibular anterior and maxillary premolar region of processed images. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed between pre and post-processed evaluation of anatomical structures (P < 0.05) in the maxillary and mandibular anterior region. The anterior region was found to be more accurate in post-processed images. No significant difference was observed in the maxillary premolar region (P>0.05). The Inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of both pre and post processed images were excellent (>0.82) for anterior region and good (>0.63) for premolar region. CONCLUSION: The application of image processing technique in digital panoramic radiography can be considered a reliable method for improving the quality of anatomical structures in paediatric patients with mixed dentition.
Bicuspid ; Child ; Dentition, Mixed ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Methods ; Radiography ; Radiography, Panoramic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of eruption guidance appliance in the treatment of anterior cross bite in mixed-dentition children. METHODS: In the study,10 mixed-dentition children with anterior cross bite, totally 12 incisors, were selected. Alginate was used to take upper and lower dentition impression and make a hard plaster model,which served as the eruption guidance appliance for treatment. The pre- and post-operative dental casts were digitized with SmartOptics Activity 880 scanner,and the three-dimensional overlapping models were obtained by reverse engineering software,Geomagic Studio 2012,then the three-dimensional movements of the upper and lower incisors were analyzed using Imageware 13.2 software. The overbite and overjet were analyzed using the same methods. Measurement with copper wire was used to analyze the upper and lower arch length. Space analysis was the result by the sum of crown width minus the arch length. The crown width of unerupted permanent teeth was according to X-ray method to predict. The SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the pre- and post-operative measurements of the same child. The normality test of the measured data showed that it conformed to the normal distribution. Therefore,the t test and double side test were used,and the significance level was 0.05. RESULTS: The course of treatment was (5.6±2.7) months. During orthodontic treatment, the upper incisors moved mainly labially (P<0.001) in three-dimensional displacement, and the lower incisors moved mainly the same direction (P=0.025). During the treatment of eruption guidance appliance,the average overbite decreased (1.01±0.9) mm (t=-3.531, P=0.006), and the difference was statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-operative average overjet (t=0.771, P=0.460). The severity of crowding in upper arch decreased (1.9±0.99) mm (t=-6.042, P<0.001),and that in lower arch decreased (1.9±0.74) mm (t=-8.143, P<0.001), both of the differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION The anterior cross bite in mixed dentition could be corrected by eruption guidance appliance, and at the same time, the normal overjet and overbite were established, and the teeth were aligned.
Child ; Dentition, Mixed ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; Tooth Eruption

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the eruption pattern and root resorption of the bovine anterior dentition in relation to growth-related parameters based on dental maturity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 bovine anterior mandibles by using standard radiography, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and actual measurements. We determined the relationships between the stages of dental maturity by using a modification of Demirjian's method and various growth-related parameters, such as the activity of the root-resorbing tissue and mobility of the deciduous teeth. The correlation of growth-related parameters with interdental spacing and distal unusual root resorption (DRR) of the deciduous fourth incisor was assessed. The cause of mesial unusual root resorption (MRR) of the deciduous fourth incisor was determined on the basis of the arrangement of the permanent third incisor. RESULTS: An independent t-test and chi-square test indicated significant differences in growth-related parameters associated with dental arch length discrepancy and factors related to the shedding of deciduous teeth between the low and high dental maturity groups. The samples with interdental spacing and DRR showed a larger sum of mesiodistal permanent crown widths and higher dental maturity than did the respective controls. Samples with MRR tended to show a lingually rotated distal tip of the adjacent tooth crown. CONCLUSIONS: Dental maturity has relevance to the interdental spaces and unusual root resorption of mixed dentition. The position of the adjacent tooth crown on CBCT may be correlated with the occurrence of unusual root resorption of the incisor.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Crowns ; Dental Arch ; Dentition ; Dentition, Mixed ; Growth and Development ; Incisor* ; Mandible ; Methods ; Radiography ; Root Resorption* ; Tooth Crown ; Tooth* ; Tooth, Deciduous