Adult transverse diagnosis and treatment: A case-based review

Problems in the transverse dimension can be challenging to manage, especially in adult patients. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of normal transverse jaw development, the etiology and diagnosis of transverse discrepancies, goals of adult transverse treatment, and treatment options for adult transverse discrepancies. Mirroring a seminar from your orthodontic residency, this article is written in question and answer format. We ask that you think through answers to the questions we present very carefully and make the best decisions you can, before you refer to the answers we provide. Like your orthodontic residency, you will find that certain principles are emphasized and applied time and time again to a spectrum of patients in this case-based article. These are the principles which have served us well over many years of teaching and treating adults in the transverse dimension.