[Adolescent obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: Characteristics and treatment].

Although the prevalence of the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is high in adolescents, studies pertaining to adolescent OSAS are less numerous than childhood studies. Cases of adolescent OSAS may consist of residual OSAS after adenotonsillectomy, but most often are de novo cases. Major pathophysiological factors are weight excess or even high-grade obesity, and the association of upper airway narrowing and tonsillar hypertrophy (pharyngeal, palatal or even lingual).

Rapid maxillary expansion assisted by palatal mini-implants in adolescents - preliminary study.

Our preliminary clinical study compares the transverse skeletal and dento-alveolar modifications occurring after rapid maxillary expansion with purely dental anchorage or with dental anchorage assisted by palatal mini-implants, in endognathic adolescents aged 12 to 17. Nine patients were treated by means of tooth- and implant-supported expansion, and 7 others by means of a purely tooth-borne expander. The changes, 4 months after expansion, were measured on impressions and front-view X-rays in the 2 groups, and on three-dimensional X-rays for 6 patients treated by tooth- and implant-supported expansion.

[Vertical control and orthopedic therapy].

Control of the vertical development of the face is a key element in assuring the success of orthopedic treatment, as much for its effects on anterior vertical dimension as for its influence on correction of the sagittal discrepancy between the jaws. An effective management of this control demands respect for the equilibrium between posterior and anterior face, as described by Schudy. The authors review the details of the application of orthopedic therapy on the different elements of this equilibrium and then, present the modalities of vertical control appropriate to each appliance.

[Orthodontic approach to asymmetry].

From an orthodontic point of view, asymmetries can be gathered in three great clinical entities: mandibular lateral deviations, dental asymmetries without skeletal involvement, skeletal asymmetries. Once the therapeutic aims and the principles of the orthodontic approach of these dysmorphoses have been recalled, the authors present the various orthodontic means implemented in this type of treatment. Four cases treated illustrate those types of treatment.

[Occlusal aspects of asymmetry].

The dysfunctions of the masticatory apparatus can exhibit many different aspects, and multiple etiologies. If, among those, the occlusal causes are minimized today by a majority of the authors, it is nevertheless recognized that asymmetries represent a risk factor for the appearance and the development of dysfunctional pathologies for the masticatory apparatus. In presence of such dysmorphoses, it is of primary importance to proceed to dysfunction screening, which may be followed by a specialized clinical examination of the masticatory apparatus completed when required, by supplementary investigations.