Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of early orthodontic intervention in preserving gingival health and establishing a favorable biomechanical environment for periodontal tissue development in children with anterior crossbite complicated by occlusal trauma during the mixed dentition stage. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 14 patients aged 6–14 years old with anterior crossbite accompanied by occlusal trauma, treated in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine) and Nanjing Stomatological Hospital (Nanjing University Medical School) from 2022 to 2024. Periodontal indicators (especially gingival margin position), tooth mobility, percussion tenderness, cephalometric measurements (tooth axis angle of traumatized teeth), and occlusal relationship were compared pre- and post-treatment. Statistical comparisons were performed to evaluate treatment outcomes. Results Following a mean treatment duration of 15 ± 5 months, significant improvements were observed in the sagittal maxillomandibular relationship, characterized by anterior movement of the maxilla. Clinical parameters including gingival recession and percussion tenderness of the traumatized teeth demonstrated substantial amelioration. At the 6-month follow-up examination, no crossbite relapse was detected, periodontal status remained stable, and the gingival margin level of mandibular anterior teeth affected by occlusal trauma showed no progressive recession. In most cases, the post-treatment gingival margin position was satisfactorily maintained. Conclusion Timely orthodontic intervention for anterior crossbite with occlusal trauma can effectively normalize the sagittal relationship between maxilla and mandible, improve the axial inclination of the involved teeth, eliminate crossbite, and remove harmful occlusal trauma. Although trauma-induced gingival recession cannot be fully reversed, early elimination of traumatic occlusion does protect gingival tissues from</p>