Abstract
Functional orthopedic appliances used for Class II malocclusion treatment, usually work by guiding jaws growth and modifying dental positions. Among these dentoalveolar effects, it is the lower incisors buccal tipping, that helps to improve the overjet, but may cause gingival recessions, especially when associated with other etiological factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical crown length of the lower anterior teeth in individuals with Angle’s Class II malocclusion, after treatment with Frankel-2 function regulator appliance (RF-2). Fifty Class II-malocclusion individuals were divided into 2 groups: G1 – 14 male, and 11 female, treated with the Frankel-2 function regulator appliance for 18 months, with average pre-treatment age (T1) of 11 years (sd=7 months) and average post-treatment age (T2) of 12 years and 7 months (sd=7 months); and G2 – a control group with 25 individuals (12 male and 13 female) with average age at T1 of 10 years and 3 months (sd=11 months) and at T2 of 12 years and 1 month (sd=11 months), which was part of a normal occlusion sample. The 100 dental cast models were analyzed at T1 and T2, with a digital caliper, measuring the distance from the incisal edge to the most concave portion of the gingival margin of lower incisors and canines. Data were checked by a Student’s t-test and a paired t-test. Considering T2, the group 1 presented a significant increase in the crown length of all lower anterior teeth. On the other hand, in the group 2, this was observed only for the teeth 33, 42 and 43, suggesting that patients treated with RF-2 had more gingival recession than the control group.
Highlights
Treatment of Class II malocclusion with functional orthopedic appliances works in the anterior discrepancy of the jaws by guiding growth towards a more favorable direction
This study aimed to evaluate the length of the clinical crown of lower anterior teeth, on the buccal surface, in individuals with Angle Class II malocclusion treated with Fränkel-2 function regulator appliance
The group 1 (G1) was composed by 25 individuals treated with the Fränkel-2 function regulator appliance for 18 months, being 14 males and 11 females, with average pre-treatment age (T1) of years and average post-treatment age (T2) of years and 7 months
Summary
Treatment of Class II malocclusion with functional orthopedic appliances works in the anterior discrepancy of the jaws by guiding growth towards a more favorable direction. The literature shows promising results using Fränkel-2 (RF-2) function regulator appliance: increase in mandibular length, buccal inclination of the lower incisors, inclination of upper incisors to the lingual, restriction of maxillary growth, extrusion of upper molars, and increase in intercanine distance (MCNAMARA JÚNIOR et al, 1990; MARSICO et al, 2011). Owing the trend of buccal inclination of lower incisors, it should be noted their bone support in relation to the limit of movement, because patients prone to vertical growth have a smaller thickness of the buccal bone at the symphysis, which may cause a gingival recession in the incisors region, once the gingiva accompanies bone support (ROTHE et al, 2006; VIECILLI et al, 2008). The lack of stability of the marginal gingiva of this region along with the poor hygiene may lead to increased clinical crown (DOLCE et al, 2007)
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