Class II Treatment in Growing Patients: Preliminary Evaluation of the Skeletal and Dental Effects of a New Clear Functional Appliance

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective preliminary study was to analyze the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects of a new clear functional appliance in a sample of patients close to growth spurt with class II malocclusion attributable to mandibular retrusion. Materials and methods: A sample of growing patients underwent functional Class II correction using F22® (Sweden and Martina, Due Carrare (PD), Italy) Young, realized combining the aesthetic characteristics of the F22® clear aligner with the structural features of a functional appliance. For each patient, a digital setup was performed by a single operator to plan a mandibular advancement to the therapeutic position. Cephalometric analysis before and after treatment was performed. The purpose of the statistical analysis was to evaluate dental and skeletal changes associated with F22® Young device, and whether there were statistically significant differences in anatomical measurements between the beginning and end of treatment. Results: 15 patients, 7 females and 8 males of average age 10.3, were treated with the F22® Young appliance for an average period of 10 months ± 0.5 (maximum 11.5 months, minimum 10.5 months). The data showed that the SNB angle increase was statistically significant from T0 to T1, leading to a reduction in the ANB angle. Values for the mandible length, both total (Co-Gn) and at the base (Go-Pg), significantly increased. Conclusions: According to this preliminary study, F22® Young appliance is effective in promoting mandibular advancement when used near the pubertal growth peak. The device is comfortable and aesthetic, which certainly promoted patient compliance, a key factor for treatment success.

Evaluation of the skeletal and dental effects of a hybrid aesthetic functional appliance (HAF) in skeletal class II division 1 malocclusion: A prospective uncontrolled clinical trial

“…Concerning the dentoalveolar changes in mandibular incisors, labial tipping of the lower incisors was observed in this study as a significant increase in (L1/MPº), which may occur due to taking support from the lower six anterior teeth during mandibular advancement by covering the lower six anterior teeth with thermoplastic material, so forces exerted on it cause labial tipping. This finding was in agreement with Cremonini et al 27 and Siara-Olds et al 28 …”

“…Concerning the dentoalveolar changes in mandibular incisors, labial tipping of the lower incisors was observed in this study as a significant increase in (L1/MPº), which may occur due to taking support from the lower six anterior teeth during mandibular advancement by covering the lower six anterior teeth with thermoplastic material, so forces exerted on it cause labial tipping. This finding was in agreement with Cremonini et al 27 and Siara-Olds et al 28 There was also a significant increase in distance between the lower first molar mesiobuccal cusp tip and mandibular plane (L6-GnGo (mm)) as extrusion of lower posterior teeth occurred due to freedom of occlusion posteriorly that helps in correcting the lower curve of Spee and deep bite. This result was in line with Lagerström et al 29 studies.…”

“…This finding coincided with the findings concerning New Clear Functional Appliance. 27 The overbite also showed a significant reduction due to the overeruption of lower posterior teeth, according to Mills and McCulloch. 32 Furthermore, labial tilting of lower incisors contributes to overbite reduction.…”