Assessment of mandibular growth and response to functional appliance treatment in prepubertal patients with different auxologic categories
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Daniel Celli1, Enrico Gasperoni, Bruno Oliva
1Scuola di Specializzazione in Ortognatodonzia, "Sacred Heart" Catholic University, Roma, Italy. info@celliortho.it
Objective:
To assess mandibular growth and response to functional appliance treatment in different Petrovic's auxologic categories and to investigate diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of the Lavergne-Petrovic's flow diagram.
Materials And Methods:
Eighteen patients with class II malocclusion (ANB>/=4 degrees , dental class II) were selected and divided into 4 groups according to the auxologic categories. Category 2 group had 4 patients, category 3 group had 5, category 4 group had 5 and category 5 group had 4. In order to obtain patient's growth curves and detect the correct treatment time, patient's height was measured every 3 months. This method was supported by the cervical vertebral maturation method for the assessment of mandibular growth. Functional appliance and/or class II elastics, during the fixed appliance phase, were used to correct skeletal and dental relationships. Average treatment time was 31 months (Range 28-36 months). CoGn and ANB were detected in pre-treatment and post-treatment radiographs in order to assess mandibular growth.
Results:
The highest growth was in category 5, the lowest in category 2. Rotational type improvement was generally observed.
Conclusions:
In prepubertal class II patients, treatment success not only depends on appliance choice, clinician's ability and correct treatment time, but also on individual growth potential and facial type. Therefore Lavergne-Petrovic's flow diagram could become a great diagnostic and prognostic aid for the orthodontist.
