Patient's Chief Complaint:

When the patient came for consultation, they felt their upper front teeth were inside the lower front teeth, which is a severe crossbite. Eating felt strange, and the function of cutting food was limited. At the same time, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was always uncomfortable, worsening after working overtime and staying up late.
 

Treatment Plan:

During the consultation, the doctor first performed a joint examination and found that the patient's CO/CR positions were not consistent, and there was room for the mandible to retract. After measuring the mandibular edge-to-edge position, the doctor determined that the lower primary teeth could be extracted followed by retraction. Although the patient's deep overbite/crossbite appeared severe, it was not a true skeletal discrepancy. Retracting the lower front teeth would allow the upper front teeth to overlap the lower teeth, while positioning the joint in a healthy state. Concerned about aesthetics, the patient chose clear aligners. Utilizing the bite-ramp effect of the clear aligners not only reduced the burden on the joint but also helped correct the anterior crossbite.
 

Treatment Results:

After two years of orthodontic treatment, the facial profile is more aesthetic. The previous underbite profile has now returned to normal. Functionally, chewing efficiency has significantly improved, and the symptoms of masseter muscle fatigue and joint clicking have been markedly relieved.