Evaluation of treatment and posttreatment changes of protraction facemask treatment using the PAR index

The purpose of this study was to use the Peer Assesment Rating (PAR) index score to evaluate the treatment and posttreatment changes of Class III patients treated by protraction facemask. The sample consisted of 20 Chinese children, 6 to 11 years old, with Class III skeletal malocclusion who had been treated with maxillary expansion and a protraction facemask. The average treatment time was 8.2 months, followed by 1 year of retention with a Class III functional appliance. Study casts were taken pretreatment (T1), posttreatment (T2), 1 year follow-up (T3), and 2 years follow-up (T4). After treatment, PAR scores were calculated for each time period. Differences among the 4 time periods were analyzed with the Wilcoxin matched-pairs test. Significant reductions in PAR scores were found at T2 (56%), T3 (70%), and T4 (63%) compared with T1. Immediately posttreatment (T2), 17 (85%) of 20 patients had improved PAR scores by a reduction of at least 30%. Reductions were caused primarily by correction of the anterior crossbite. One year after treatment (T3), further reductions in PAR score were noted (P <.01) as a result of better alignment of the anterior segment, improvement of the buccal occlusion, and overbite and midline corrections. Two years after treatment (T4), PAR scores were higher than at the previous time period. The increases were due to relapses in overjet (4 of 20 patients), overbite, and centerline corrections. These results indicate that significant reductions in the severity of Class III malocclusion can be achieved with early orthopedic facemask treatment. In most cases, further improvement in the PAR score can be expected 1 and 2 years after treatment. In a few patients, the benefits of early treatment are negated by relapses in overjet, overbite, and centerline corrections during the follow-up period.