[A critical evaluation of Class-II anomalies treated with functional orthodontic appliances]

In the course of a clinical and radiological follow-up study of 55 patients with class II malocclusions, who had been treated with functional appliances, the dental and skeletal changes were critically studies and statistically analyzed in relation to long term aesthetic, dental, and skeletal changes. Differences between class II, division 1 cases and class II, division 2 cases were also compared. The study revealed that at the end of the treatment period 80% of the functionally treated patients displayed much better nose to upper lip relations than at treatment begin. Aesthetically the best treatment results were in the class II, first group patients with an average 4.2 degree reduction of the soft tissue H-angle in the course of functional therapy. It was shown that both dental and skeletal changes were responsible fo the in most cases good treatment results, whereas the changes in patients in the two subgroups with class II malocclusions showed significant differentiations. This paper describes these changes in detail. Viewed in its entirety this study clearly supports the efficacy of functional therapy in adolescents. In relation to long-term stability the results of functional balanced occlusion and the stability of the maxillo-mandibular relationship should be especially emphasized, whereas the therapeutically induced protrusion of the mandibular incisors and their relapse should be critically viewed.