Subjects affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) develop severe malocclusions with the progression of the disease, due to changes in orofacial musculature and function, including tongue hypertrophy. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of maintaining mandibular interarch width with the help of a simple fixed orthodontic appliance. Three adolescent DMD boys were selected consecutively to receive a passive rigid mandibular lingual arch, and followed for 4-5 years. An untreated age-matched control group was chosen and followed for a similar period. Study casts were obtained at baseline and after follow-up. Outcomes measured were overjet, overbite, maxillary and mandibular intermolar widths, mandibular arch depth, molar relationships, and the presence of lateral crossbites and anterior or lateral openbites. Changes in measurements obtained between the two time points were compared in each age-matched pair. There was a clinically important increase in the mandibular intermolar width in the non-treated children ranging from 2.5 mm to 9 mm, but not in those treated. Malocclusions generally deteriorated in untreated children while they remained stable in treated children. The use of a rigid mandibular lingual arch in boys with DMD can help slow down the rapid deterioration of the developing malocclusions that accompanies the progression of the disease.

中文翻译：

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杜氏肌营养不良症患者舌肥大对牙槽的影响的管理：一项初步研究

由于口面部肌肉组织和功能的变化，包括舌头肥大，受杜氏肌营养不良症 (DMD) 影响的受试者随着疾病的进展会出现严重的错牙合。我们旨在评估在简单的固定正畸矫治器的帮助下保持下颌牙弓间宽度的好处。连续选择三名青少年 DMD 男孩接受被动刚性下颌舌​​弓，并随访 4-5 年。选择一个未经治疗的年龄匹配的对照组，并对其进行类似的随访。在基线和随访后获得研究模型。测量的结果包括覆盖、覆合、上颌和下颌磨牙间宽度、下颌牙弓深度、磨牙关系，以及是否存在横向反咬合和前侧或侧侧开口。在每个年龄匹配的对中比较两个时间点之间获得的测量值的变化。未接受治疗的儿童的下颌磨牙间宽度有临床意义的增加，范围从 2.5 毫米到 9 毫米，但在接受治疗的儿童中没有。未接受治疗的儿童的错牙合通常会恶化，而接受治疗的儿童则保持稳定。在患有 DMD 的男孩中使用刚性下颌舌​​弓可以帮助减缓伴随疾病进展的发展中的错牙合的快速恶化。未接受治疗的儿童的错牙合通常会恶化，而接受治疗的儿童则保持稳定。在患有 DMD 的男孩中使用刚性下颌舌​​弓可以帮助减缓伴随疾病进展的发展中的错牙合的快速恶化。未接受治疗的儿童的错牙合通常会恶化，而接受治疗的儿童则保持稳定。在患有 DMD 的男孩中使用刚性下颌舌​​弓可以帮助减缓伴随疾病进展的发展中的错牙合的快速恶化。