CHANGES IN THE DENTOFACIAL MORPHOLOGY BETWEEN CLASS II PATIENTS TREATED WITH ONE OF THE TWO TREATMENT MODALITIES: FUNCTIONAL APPLIANCE AND HEADGEAR. A RETROSPECTIVE CEPHALOMETRIC STUDY

Abstract

Aim: To compare changes in dentofacial morphology between Angle class II patients treated with one of two treatment modalities: functional appliance and headgear. Material and Methods: Activator group comprised 14 Class II patients (mean age, 13.54 years), headgear (HG) group 15 Class II patients (mean age, 11.56 years) and control group 14 Class I subjects (mean age, 11.57 years). Pre-treatment/ baseline (T1) and post-treatment/observation (T2) lateral cephalograms were retrospectively analyzed using a standard cephalometric analysis. Data were analyzed by paired t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD tests. Results: A point moved forward 0.50 and 0.51 mm in activator and control groups, but moved backward 0.37 mm in HG group, with no significant difference between groups. B point moved forward 3.32, 1.27 and 0.96 mm in activator, HG and control groups respectively, that significantly greater in activator group compared to other groups (p< .01). U1-SN angle decreased (7.39 degree) and IMPA increased (5.14 degree) significantly activator group, whereas U1-SN angle and IMPA showed small and insignificant changes (less than one degree) in HG and control groups. No significant difference observed between the groups in regard to changes in upper lip position, nasolabial angle, mandibular plane angle and mandibular body length. Favorable soft tissue facial profile changes were observed in the groups, but the changes are prominent in activator group (p< .05). Conclusion: HG group showed small and insignificant dentofacial changes. Functional appliance group showed favorable skeletal but unfavorable dentoalveolar changes. However, this group experienced more prominent and positive effects on soft tissue facial profile.