Orthodontic treatment in a patient with Moebius syndrome: A case report

Abstract

Moebius syndrome (MBS) is a congenital neurologic disorder that causes cranio-facial abnormalities. It involves paralysis of the VI and VII cranial nerves and causes bilateral or unilateral facial paralysis, eye movement disorder, and deformation of the upper and lower limbs. The orofacial dysfunctions include microstomia, micrognathia, hypotonic mimetic and lip muscles, dental enamel hypoplasia, tongue deformity, open bite or deep overbite, maxillary hypoplasia, high arched palate, mandibular hyperplasia or features indicating mandibular hypoplasia. This case report presents a 7-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with MBS at the age 2 years. The patient displayed typical clinical symptoms and was diagnosed with Class II malocclusion with a large overjet/overbite, tongue deformity and motion limitation, and lip closure incompetency. Treatment was initiated using a removable appliance for left scissor bite correction. After permanent tooth eruption, fixed appliance treatment was performed for correction of the arch width discrepancy and deep overbite. A self-ligation system and wide-width arch form wire were used during the treatment to expand the arch width. After 30 months of phase II treatment, the alignment of the dental arch and stable molar occlusion was achieved. Function and occlusion remained stable with a Class I canine and molar relationship, and a normal overjet/overbite was maintained after 9.4 years of retainer use. In MBS patients, it is important to achieve an accurate early diagnosis, and implement a multidisciplinary treatment approach and long-term retention and follow-up.