Pharyngeal dimensional changes in class II malocclusion treatment when using Forsus® or intermaxillary elastics - An...

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Pharyngeal airway obstruction is linked to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children, particularly those with class II malocclusion.
• Orthodontic treatment may alter pharyngeal airway dimensions.
• Class II malocclusion management has evolved, with intermaxillary elastics (IME) and Forsus® fatigue resistance device (FFRD) being common approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of IME and FFRD treatment on oropharyngeal airway dimensions in class II malocclusion.
• To compare the changes in airway dimensions between IME and FFRD treatment groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective exploratory cohort study of 29 patients (average age 12.7 years) with class II malocclusion.
• Patients were divided into IME and FFRD groups.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans before and after treatment were analyzed for airway dimensions.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in pharyngeal airway dimensions were found between the IME and FFRD groups (P=0.919).
• Male patients showed a higher increase in oropharyngeal space area and volume.
• Younger patients (under 14) in the IME group exhibited a greater increase in airway dimensions.

Conclusions:

• Both IME and FFRD treatments result in comparable increases in oropharyngeal airway dimensions.
• Male sex and younger age (under 14) are associated with greater increases in airway dimensions.
• Further research is needed to account for normal pharyngeal dimension changes during growth.