title: Bite force and its association with stability following Class II/1 functional appliance treatment.
abstract: The aims of this study were to investigate the value of pre-treatment maximal molar bite force as a predictive variable in determining post-treatment changes and stability following functional appliance treatment in Class II malocclusion children. Twenty-eight Class II malocclusion children having undergone functional appliance treatment were followed for at least 1 year post-treatment. Maximal molar bite force measurements, lateral cephalograms, and study casts were taken before treatment, after treatment, and after post-treatment follow-up. Relationships between pre-treatment maximal molar bite force and dental or cephalometric changes post-treatment were examined. Patients were divided into stable and unstable groups, based on dental sagittal changes (overjet and molar relationship), and differences between the two groups of patients determined. Post-treatment changes varied widely. Thirteen children showed dentoalveolar sagittal relapse, namely a shift in molars towards a Class II relationship and an increase in overjet, while 15 did not. The unstable group demonstrated a lower pre-treatment maximal molar bite force, as well as a more obtuse gonial angle, than the stable group. The gonial angle was found to be negatively correlated to maximal molar bite force and may thus be a cephalometric indicator partly reflecting the functional condition of the masticatory muscles. Children with a lower pre-treatment maximal molar bite force were more prone to dentoalveolar sagittal relapse following functional appliance treatment.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Gregory.Antonarakis@unige.ch
authors: Gregory S
authors: GS
authors: Antonarakis
authors: Heidrun
authors: H
authors: Kjellberg
authors: Stavros
authors: S
authors: Kiliaridis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001732:Bite Force; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology; D008963:Molar / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D057887:Overbite / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy