Premaxilla: an independent bone that can base therapeutics for middle third growth!

ABSTRACT Premaxilla, in its early descriptions, had the participation of Goethe. In our face, in a certain period of growth and development processes, premaxilla is an independent and, then, a semi-independent bone to finally be totally integrated to the maxilla. Formation of the premaxilla acts as a stabilization element inside the facial skeleton comparable to the cornerstone of a Roman arch and is closely related to the development of human face and its abnormal growth with characteristic malformations. Until when the premaxillary-maxillary suture remains open and offers opportunities to orthopedically influence facial growth to exert influence over facial esthetics and function? Contact with preliminary results in 1183 skulls from anatomic museums at USP, Unicamp and Unifesp led us to question therapeutic perspectives and its clinical applicability.