Bonded compomer slope for anterior tooth crossbite correction.

The “reverse” stainless steel crown is a well-known method of correcting single tooth anterior crossbite (Fig 1). When an elongated preformed incisor stainless steel crown is luted with the lingual surface facing labially, the resulting slope contacts the opposing mandibular incisors and normal occlusal forces move the incisors out of crossbite relationship. The reverse crown method corrects “dental tipping” type single tooth crossbite rapidly, comfortably, inexpensively, and without the need for special patient cooperation. Such treatment is also useful in certain cases of primary tooth anterior crossbite and was used once for treatment of a 10-month-old. Two disadvantages of using reverse stainless steel crowns are the unsightly silver appearance of the crown form, and the limitations of working with an inclined slope that is already formed. Both problems can be avoided by using a bonded resin-based composite custom formed inclined slope. The authors have found that using a polyacid-modified, resin-based composite material (“compomer”) to form the slope facilitates treatment. Compomers do not have the physical strengths of the unmodified resin-based composites and are therefore easier to remove from the tooth after completion of crossbite correction. This article describes correction of single tooth anterior crossbite using bonded compomer material and documents two cases of successful treatment.