Treatment of the mandibular shift in an adult woman and the diagnostic value of joint space index: a case report

BACKGROUND: Mandibular deviations are common clinical complaints. The orthodontic or orthognathic treatment of mandibular deviations is tricky because a comprehensive diagnosis, especially a functional one, is difficult to make. A inaccurate diagnosis may lead to a compromised and unstable treatment outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: This article describes the diagnosis and treatment of a woman with a mandibular deviation and facial skeletal asymmetry. By eliminating the disharmony of the arch form with elastics and bite turbos, her esthetic and functional outcomes improved. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) and Joint Space Index (JSI) analyses served as the diagnostic approaches and outcome evaluation methods before and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A condyle position displacement could be an indication of functional deviation. JSI analysis is a quantitative and convenient choice to compare condyle relative positions.