Changes in the Inclination of the Palatal Plane using short Elastics On SN1 Functional Appliance with Decreased Overbite

Abstract

Background: The use of short elastics in the SN1 functional appliance for the correction of palatal plane has not been reported. Objective: To evaluate changes in the inclination of the palatal plane with the use of short elastics in the SN1 functional appliance at the Dentofacial Orthopedic clinic of the Fundación Universitaria CIEO in Bogotá, between 2004 and 2012. Methods: A retrospective observational analytical study was carried out. The sample consisted of 21 4-to-12-year-old patients who presented overbite < 2 mm, palatal plane –0.1 mm, and used the functional orthopedic appliance SN1 with short elastics located in the last molar present for an 8-15 month period. Initial and control radiographs were taken. Cephalometric measurements included: factor 4 (palatal plane inclination), factor 3 (mandibular plane inclination), angle B (maxillary-mandibular angle), facial biotype according to Bimler, Frankfurt plane-anterior nasal spine (ENA) distance, Frankfurt plane-posterior nasal spine (ENP) distance, and overbite. Results: Statistically significant increase in factor 4 (p = 0.000), factor 3 (p = 0.04), ENP-ENA to Frankfurt plane distance (p = 0.00), and overbite (p = 0.61) were observed after the use of the short elastics in the SN1 functional appliance. Conclusion: The use of short elastics produced a parallelization of the palatal plane over Frankfurt, after 8-15 months of use. Likewise, it caused a change in the mandibular plane by increasing their height and improving the overbite.KEYWORDSmalocclusion; overbite; palatal plane; functional appliance; SN1; short elastics