Long-term comparison of treatment outcome and stability of Class II patients treated with functional appliances versus bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the treatment outcomes and stability of patients with Class II malocclusion treated with either functional appliances or surgical mandibular advancement.


METHODS
The early-treatment group consisted of 30 patients (15 girls, 15 boys), with a mean age of 10 years 4 months (range, 7 years 5 months to 12 years 5 months), who received either Fränkel II (15 patients) or Herbst appliances (15 patients). The surgical group consisted of 30 patients (23 female, 7 male), with a mean age of 27 years 2 months (range, 13 years 0 months to 53 years 10 months). They were treated with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies with rigid fixation. Lateral cephalograms were taken for the early-treatment group at T1 (initial records), T2 (completion of functional appliance treatment), and Tf (completion of comprehensive treatment). In the surgical group, lateral cephalograms were taken at T1 (initial records), T2 (presurgery), T3 (postsurgery), and Tf (completion of comprehensive treatment). The average times from the completion of functional appliance treatment or surgery to the final cephalograms were 35.8 months and 34.9 months, respectively. A mixed-design analysis of variance was used to compare changes within and between groups.


RESULTS
In the functional appliance group, the mandible continued to grow in a favorable direction even after discontinuation of the functional appliance. Both groups had stable results over time. Both groups finished treatment with the same cephalometric measurements. Significant skeletal and soft tissue changes were noted in the treatment groups due to either functional or surgical advancement of the mandible. More vertical relapse was noted in the surgical group than in the functional group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that early correction of Class II dentoskeletal malocclusions with functional appliances yields favorable results without the possible deleterious effects of surgery.
Berger
Jeffrey L
JL
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Detroit Mercy, Mich, USA. jberger@mnsi.net
Pangrazio-Kulbersh
Valmy
V
George
Cameron
C
Kaczynski
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000295:instrumentation; D010027:Osteotomy; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome