Orthopedic treatment outcomes in Class III malocclusion. A systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of early orthopedic treatment in Class III subjects.


METHODS
A literature survey was performed by applying the Medline database (Entrez PubMed). The survey covered the period from January 1966 to December 2005 and used the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The following study types that reported data on the effects of Class III treatment with orthopedic appliances (facial mask, chincup, FR-3) on intermaxillary sagittal and vertical relationships were included: randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and prospective and retrospective longitudinal controlled clinical trials (CCTs) with untreated Class III controls.


RESULTS
The search strategy resulted in 536 articles. After selection according to criteria for inclusion and exclusion, 19 articles qualified for the final review analysis. One RCT and 18 CCTs were retrieved.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality standard of the retrieved investigations ranged from low (four studies) to medium/high (five studies). Data derived from medium/high quality research described over 75% of success of orthopedic treatment of Class III malocclusion (RME and facial mask therapy) at a follow-up observation 5 years after the end of orthopedic treatment.
Toffol
Laura De
LD
Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Pavoni
Chiara
C
Baccetti
Tiziano
T
Franchi
Lorenzo
L
Cozza
Paola
P
D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000628:therapy*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome