Skeletal and dental changes following functional regulator therapy on class II patients

Craniofacial growth in 100 patients treated with the functional regulator of Frankel for about 24 months was compared with craniofacial growth seen in a matched group of untreated persons with Class II malocclusion. Both conventional and geometric cephalometric analyses were used to evaluate the skeletal and dental adaptations. This study shows several clear effects of treatment in either of two age ranges considered. The principal skeletal effect was advancement of the mandible along the direction of the facial axis. This advancement resulted in increases in mandibular length and in vertical facial dimensions. There was little effect of treatment upon maxillary skeletal structures with the exception of point A, which moved slightly posteriorly. Dentoalveolar adaptations due to treatment included a decrease in the normal forward movement of the upper molar and an increase in the normal vertical movement of the lower molar. There was a 2-mm posterior movement of the tip of the upper incisor but minimal anterior tipping of the lower incisor.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25601/1/0000148.pd

Intra-oral compartment pressures: a biofunctional model and experimental measurements under different conditions of posture

Oral posture is considered to have a major influence on the development and reoccurrence of malocclusion. A biofunctional model was tested with the null hypotheses that (1) there are no significant differences between pressures during different oral functions and (2) between pressure measurements in different oral compartments in order to substantiate various postural conditions at rest by intra-oral pressure dynamics. Atmospheric pressure monitoring was simultaneously carried out with a digital manometer in the vestibular inter-occlusal space (IOS) and at the palatal vault (sub-palatal space, SPS). Twenty subjects with normal occlusion were evaluated during the open-mouth condition (OC), gently closed lips (semi-open compartment condition, SC), with closed compartments after the generation of a negative pressure (CCN) and swallowing (SW). Pressure curve characteristics were compared between the different measurement phases (OC, SC, CCN, SW) as well as between the two compartments (IOS, SPS) using analysis of variance and Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests adopting a significance level of α = 0.05. Both null hypotheses were rejected. Average pressures (IOS, SPS) in the experimental phases were 0.0, −0.08 (OC); −0.16, −1.0 (SC); −48.79, −81.86 (CCN); and −29.25, −62.51 (SW) mbar. CCN plateau and peak characteristics significantly differed between the two compartments SPS and IOS. These results indicate the formation of two different intra-oral functional anatomical compartments which provide a deeper understanding of orofacial biofunctions and explain previous observations of negative intra-oral pressures at rest