Fixed braces yield superior outcomes compared with other orthodontic methods of treating posterior crossbite, according to a dissertation by Sofia Petrén, a dentist and orthodontic specialist at Malmö University in Sweden.
In randomized studies, Dr. Petrén investigated four methods of orthodontic treatment: fixed appliance, removable appliance, composite construction on the molars of the lower jaw, and no action in the hope that the problem would resolve itself. A total of 70 children were involved in the four groups.
The results showed that neither the composite construction nor no action approaches had any effect on crossbite. The other two treatments were found to be effective, both in the short and long term, but the fixed appliance yielded clearly superior results, according to Dr. Petrén.
"The fixed braces entail that the children are treated 24 hours a day. The removable plate means that the children need the help of their parents, and it happens that they forget it sometimes, which affects the outcome of treatment," Dr. Petrén said.
