[A Study of the relationship between craniofacial morphology and the occlusion in lacteal dentition: occipital remodeling specificities and basicranial individual features that play an occlusal key role].

Before performing any procedure or initiating early intervention on children in lacteal dentition, it is crucial to closely investigate a few key elements of the cranial base of the child. A first step of diagnostics is needed - the classification of the dysharmony ie its squelettal and/or functional element - before we prescribe a major orthopedic treatment or just stop dysfunctions using simple functional appliances. To confront these constraints of diagnostic, a set of 243 children in the lacteal dentition was examined.

Uncovering and treating asymmetry before 6 years in our daily clinical practice: option or obligation? Orthodontics or orthopedics?

Skeletal asymmetry of the TMJ or maxillary arch is always associated with basicranium skeletal asymmetry and can become pathogenic for the development of masticatory function. What means do we dispose of in our everyday practice for early screening and treatment of these often little-known asymmetries? This is the focus of our article, which draws on over 10years' experience within our own practices. We have systematically applied the following ground-rules: (a) look for clinical signs of facial asymmetry well before eruption of the deciduous teeth, and when the deciduous teeth have erupted; (b) during extraoral examinations, apply a new diagnostic tool involving a tracing of the soft tissue axes of the ears in order to uncover patients at high risk of intertemporal asymmetry; (c) look for maxillary intra-arch asymmetry using an Orthogrille(®)-type measurement grid; (d) look for inter-arch asymmetries using the "cranial" laterality test.

[Dentofacial Orthopedics to treat facial asymmetries before six years of age. How to balance craniofacial growth and enhance temporomandibular function].

Minor facial asymmetries that can be detected in newborn infants indicate that facial growth for this child will also be asymmetric. When practitioners observe a displacement of the mandible in temporary dentition it probably indicates the presence of asymmetric masticatory function and they should look for an inter-temporal axial asymmetry by tracing cutaneous landmarks in the vicinity of the external ears. If they find the possible presence of asymmetric remodeling of glenoid fossas, they have to anticipate future temporo-mandibular disorders.