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OBJECTIVES: To identify and qualify the evidence of published studies evaluating whether rapid maxillary expansion (RME) treatment modifies the head and cervical posture in growing patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic database searches were conducted until January 2021 using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and LILACS. Grey literature was explored using ClinicalTrials, OpenGrey and Google Scholar. Trials involving participants who underwent RME were included. Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment was conducted using the Cochrane tool for randomized trials and the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) for non-randomized trials. The certainty level of evidence was evaluated through the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool (GRADE). RESULTS: Six clinical trials were included. The RoB scores had unclear and high risks of bias. Low certainty of evidence suggested that the effects following RME include a decrease in craniocervical angulation, as well as a very low certainty of evidence for a decrease in head elevation, an increase in cervical lordosis, and an increase in the inclination of the cervical spine. CONCLUSIONS: There is low and very low evidence that RME alters the head and cervical posture in growing patients. Further investigation regarding long-term effects, possible changes due to somatic growth, and clinical relevance is needed.

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Introduction: Patients presenting Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) are common in our daily clinical practice. One of the possible conditions that lead to TMD is the habitual chewing side syndrome. Methods: In this case report a clinical approach is presented to manage the TMD related to unilateral vicious mastication. A 42 years old woman presented reporting headaches, difficulty to open mouth, presence of sensitivity in the left ear and TMJ region, soreness on the left side temporal region and sensitivity in the anterior inferior teeth. It was noted that the patient habitually clenched and ground teeth. Patient mentioned chew more on the left side. Results: After confirming the unilateral mastication, a modified therapy based on the Neuro occlusal Rehabilitation was applied through the use of a splint. After 60 days the patient described absence of the previous symptoms and pain relief. Conclusion: The evaluation of the masticatory pattern is often neglected; however, it is of great importance since it can lead to several conditions such as condyle wear, pain, alteration of the occlusal plane, deviation of the medial line, deviation of the mandible at mouth opening, bone alterations, Temporomandibular joint(TMJ) hypofunction, headache, among others.