Comparison of twin block appliance and Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device therapies on uvulo-glossopharyngeal dimensions: A retrospective study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different functional appliances on skeletal, dental, and uvulo-glossopharyngeal dimensions. Materials and Methods: Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms of 50 adolescent Class II patients with a retrognathic mandible were obtained from an archive and divided into two groups according to functional therapy. Twenty-five patients (14 females, 11 males, mean age: 13.5 ± 2.8) who were treated with Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FFRD) and 25 patients (17 females, eight males, mean age: 12.5 ± 0.4) who had received functional therapy through the twin block (TWB) were enrolled. Skeletal, dentoalveolar, tongue, uvula, hyoid position, and oropharyngeal airway parameters were measured using the Dolphin software, and uvulo-glossopharyngeal area measurements were performed with the AutoCAD software. Results: The TWB group exhibited remarkable mandibular advancement compared to the FFRD group (P < 0.05). Both of the treatments proclined mandibular incisors, and tongue dimensions increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). While the hyoid point moved forward and the oropharyngeal area increased significantly in the TWB group, no significant changes were observed in the FFRD group. The comparison of the TWB and FFRD groups with regard to uvulo-glossopharyngeal dimensions showed no significant differences between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Changes in uvulo-glossopharyngeal dimensions did not significantly vary between the two different functional therapies.