Limited orthodontic treatment in myotonic dystrophy II

Abstract

Rationale. Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is a multisystemic autosomal dominant disease characterized by myotonia and progressive muscular weakness and atrophy. Objective. The purpose of this study was to describe the dental, skeletal and muscular features in a family with myotonic dystrophy type II and to discuss possible therapeutic strategies. Methods and results. This study presents the case of a family (a mother and two daughters) diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy type II. Beside the medical history and genetic tests, each subject underwent a clinical examination including impression taking, intra- and extraoral photographs and cephalometric analysis. Our investigations revealed alterations in the transversal and vertical planes. Conclusions. Our findings were consistent with previously reported craniofacial features of patients affected by myotonic disorders, and they may be important diagnostic signs of a congenital muscular disease. We found that the most predominant malocclusions were the anterior open bite and posterior cross bite, but the tendency to class III malocclusion is in contradiction with their findings.

Keywords

• myotonic dystrophy type ii
• long face syndrome
• anterior open bite
• limited orthodontic treatment