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Cephalometric changes in the treatment of class III using the Fränkel appliance
Friedrich Falck1, Kristina Zimmermann-Menzel
1Department of Orthodontics, Heinrich Braun Hospital, Zwickau, Germany. appel-kfo@t-online.de
Aim:
In this retrospective clinical study, we aimed to evaluate skeletal changes following treatment of Class III malocclusion by means of the Function Regulator (FR-3) appliance.
Material And Methods:
The group of patients we treated with the FR-3 exclusively consisted of 56 subjects (20 boys and 36 girls). Fifteen subjects (7 boys and 8 girls) of approximately the same age and presenting almost identical characteristics of a Class III malocclusion of skeletal etiology served as a control group (between the ages of 7 and 15 years). Lateral cephalograms were compared using the occipital reference structures as proposed by Fränkel.
Results:
Cephalometric analysis showed that maxillary landmarks (point A, nasospinale), and the upper incisor (root included) did move significantly farther forward in the treated group than in the control group (p < 0.01). We also found that the gonial angle decreased by 7.17 degrees in the FR-3 group, as opposed to 2.07 degrees in the untreated group (p < 0.001). No significant differences were noted in mandibular-length growth (Ar-Pog, Ar-Go, Go-Pog).
Conclusion:
According to these study results, FR-3 treatment has an obvious effect on maxillary development, and affects the shape and, to a certain degree, the position of the mandible.
