“Watch them Young – Treat them Grow”: Management of Developing Anterior Cross Bite in Mixed Dentition Period Using Versatile 2x4 Appliance

Abstract

The primary care of the Paediatric dentist is guidance of the child’s developing dentition, in accordance with the stage of orofacial growth and development . Anterior dental crossbite results from the lingual position of the maxillary anterior teeth in relationship with mandibular anterior teeth. In any type of crossbite correction, the practitioner must be able to delineate whether crossbite is of dental origin or skeletal origin . Dental Crossbite involves the localized tipping of a tooth or teeth, does not involve the basal bone . In case of simple anterior dental crossbite, the patient presents a normal skeletal pattern with abnormalities presenting in the axial inclination of the affected teeth. According to Profitt, first adequate space needs to be opened to bring the displaced tooth or teeth across the occlusion into its proper position for anterior dental crossbite correction. Certain malocclusions should be corrected during the mixed dentition period which aids in the normal growth of jaws and surrounding structures. This article describes successful management of anterior segmental cross bite case treated using 2 x 4 appliance. The 2 x 4 appliance is a partially fixed orthodontic appliance that is used in children in a mixed dentition period to correct simple malocclusions associated with permanent anterior teeth.