Comparative evaluation of Skeletal, Dental, and Soft Tissue Changes in Class II Division 1 Malocclusion Cases Treated with Twin Block and innovative Clear Block Appliance - A Prospective Interventional Study

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue changes in skeletal Class II division 1 cases treated with Twin Block and Clear Block appliances using a cephalogram. A total of 40 patients of age between 12-14 years were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group 1: treated with Twin Block appliance and Group 2: treated with Clear Block appliance. The pre-treatment lateral cephalogram was taken and skeletal, dental, and soft tissue parameters were evaluated and the appliance was delivered. After 8 months, another lateral cephalogram of all the cases was taken and analyzed. The pre and post-treatment values were compared between the two groups. The pre-treatment cases were almost comparable in skeletal, dental, and soft tissue features in both groups. There was a significant change in mandibular growth by SNB angle. The retrusion and extrusion of maxillary incisors as well as a proclination and extrusion of mandibular incisors were seen in group 1 while no change was observed in group 2. Treatment with Clear Block appliances has shown significant and favorable Skeletal, Dental and Soft tissue changes which are similar to already proven by the Twin Block appliance. Clear Block provides an esthetic and less bulky option for growth modification with similar results as compared to conventional Twin Block with the additional benefit of preventing lower incisor proclination.