Facial growth during treatment with the function regulator appliance

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Craniofacial Growth
• Dental Biomaterials

Background:

• The Fränkel function regulator 2 (FR-2) is an orthodontic appliance designed to influence dentofacial development.
• Understanding its precise effects on facial growth patterns is crucial for effective treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of one-year treatment with the Fränkel function regulator 2 (FR-2) on facial growth in ten patients.
• To analyze cephalometric changes in the maxilla and mandible during FR-2 therapy.

Main Methods:

• Cephalometric analysis of headfilms from ten patients before and after one year of FR-2 treatment.
• Superimposition of headfilms on stable anterior cranial base structures for qualitative change analysis.

Main Results:

• Facial growth was predominantly vertical, with significant individual variations observed.
• The maxilla tended towards retrognathism, with posterior rotation and displacement in some cases.
• No significant forward mandibular growth was promoted by the FR-2 appliance; observed occlusal improvements stemmed from vertical jaw adjustments.

Conclusions:

• The FR-2 appliance's primary impact on facial growth is in the vertical dimension.
• Treatment effects on the maxilla and mandible show considerable inter-individual variability.
• The FR-2, as utilized in this study, does not appear to stimulate significant forward mandibular growth, with occlusal improvements attributed to vertical changes.