Objectives: To apply human orthodontic principles in treating malocclusion with dentofacial asymmetry for a juvenile male giant panda in which a developmental anomaly was potentially attributable to accidental maternal injury to the mandible and left forelimb, as well as subsequent amputation of the left forelimb. Materials and Methods: Custom orthodontic appliances were designed using intraoral scanning and bonded under general anesthesia. Treatment involved fixed appliances and elastic tractions over a 6-month period. Pretreatment and posttreatment evaluation included clinical examination and computed tomography (CT) scanning. Results: Functional orthopedic treatment successfully corrected the mandibular deviation, improving facial symmetry and masticatory function. CT scans demonstrated correction of mandibular deviation and compensatory growth of the left cranial base. Conclusions: This case demonstrates successful application of orthodontic principles in treating developmental asymmetry in a giant panda through interdisciplinary collaboration between veterinary and orthodontic specialists.
Fan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.