Mandibular expansion in a congenital aglossia patient

Abstract

Congenital aglossia is a very rare condition. The oral manifestations of an aglossia include micrognathia, high arched or cleft palate, defects of the lower lip, an absence of lateral incisors and a mandibular growth deficiency. Although the etiology of congenital aglossia is unclear, both genetic and teratogenic mechanisms have been proposed. Treatment of aglossia patients depends on the nature and severity of the condition which includes surgical rehabilitation of the tongue tip to some extent, orthopedic expansion of the mandible to guide mandibular growth, and mandibular expansion by a distraction osteogenesis. In the present case, a 6 year old female aglossia patient with situs inversus was treated. A bonded hyrax screw was used to increase her mandibular primary intercanine width and intermolar width. A second phase orthodontic and surgical treatment will be possible after some retention phase.