title: Short-term soft- and hard-tissue changes following Class III treatment using a removable mandibular retractor: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a Class III functional appliance [the removable mandibular retractor (RMR)] in the early treatment of skeletal Class III deformities. SET-UP: Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthodontic Department, University of Al-Baath Dental School, Hamah, Syria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven skeletal Class III patients were recruited, distributed randomly into two groups: 1) treatment group (T) with the RMR: 33 patients (17 males and 16 females) with a mean age of 7.5 ± 1.33 years, 2) control group (C): 34 patients (15 males and 19 females) with a mean age of 7.3 ± 1.58 years. Lateral cephalograms were taken at the start of treatment (T1-T) or at the start of the observation period (T1-C) and after 14.5 ± 0.1 months (both groups). Soft- and hard-tissue changes in both groups were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main significant findings in the treatment group were 1) anterior morphogenetic rotation of the mandible as a result of upward and forward condylar growth; 2) significant increase in maxillary length; 3) significant increase in maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion; 4) significant decrease in mandibular dentoalveolar protrusion; 5) significant protrusion of the upper lip; 6) significant retrusion of the lower lip; and 7) significant reduction in nasolabial angle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RMR is an effective appliance in the treatment of skeletal Class III patients in the early mixed dentition in the short term.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, University of Al-Baath Dental School, Hamah, Syria. drsalehmfaris@gmail.com
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Saleh
authors: M Y
authors: MY
authors: Hajeer
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Al-Jundi
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011378:Prognathism / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome