Comparative Study on the Efficiency of Intermaxillary Elastic Polymers used in the Treatment of Skeletal Class II Malocclusions in Growing Patients

Luminita Ligia Vaida,Elena Luminita Albert,Alexandru Zalana,Emilia Albinita Cuc,Raluca Dima,Ioana Elena Lile,Delia Daragiu,Bianca Ioana Todor,Abel Emanuel Moca,Bianca Maria Negrutiu

doi:10.37358/mp.19.2.5183

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency in using intermaxillary elastics to stimulate mandibular growth and advancement in orthodontic patients diagnosed with skeletal Class II malocclusion as well as to compare the use of these Class II elastics in two different therapeutic approaches. The sample consisted of 60 orthodontic patients aged 10-15 years, 34 girls and 26 boys. The sample was divided into two equal groups (each consisting of 30 patients). Patients belonging to the first group (Group 1) were subjected to 1/4�� - 6.0 oz elastics and were advised to change the elastic every 24 hours. Patients belonging to the second group (Group 2) were subjected to 1/4�- 4.5 oz elastics but with a recommendation to change the elastics every 12 hours. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these two types of Class II elastics on mandibular growth and advancement, the value of the SNB angle at the beginning of the treatment (T1) was compared with the value of the SNB angle after 5 months of wearing intermaxillary elastics (T2). All patients showed statistically significant increased values of the SNB angle during the orthodontic treatment (p[0.001). Patients in Group 2 showed a significantly higher statistical increase (p[0.05) than patients in Group 1.

Highlights

Class II malocclusion is considered to be one of the most frequent problems present in orthodontic patients
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these two types of Class II elastics on mandibular growth and advancement, the value of the SNB angle at the beginning of treatment (T1) was compared with the value of the SNB angle after 5 months of wearing intermaxillary elastics (T2)
The evolution of SNB angle post-treatment analyzed for patients within Group 1 is represented in table 2 and figure 4

Summary

Introduction

Class II malocclusion is considered to be one of the most frequent problems present in orthodontic patients. Iranian authors have studied children aged between 11-14 years and measured a prevalence of Class II malocclusion of 27.5%, out of which 24.1% subdivision 1 and 3.4% subdivision 2 [4]. Mild and moderate Class II malocclusions can be adjusted with fixed appliances in combination with intermaxillary elastics with or without teeth extractions, and severe malocclusions can be treated only with fixed appliances in combination with orthognathic surgery. Elastics have been handy orthodontic means for many years; they are a routine measure throughout the whole treatment process. These materials fit two fundamental categories: latex and synthetic rubber (elastomer) (table 1) [15]. The force extension value of latex elastics is normally provided by the manufacturers for different types and sizes

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Results

Conclusion