The Use of Selective Laser Melting in Mandibular Retrognathia Correction

Abstract

Digitalization and additive manufacturing offer new possibilities in the manufacturing of individualized medical and dental products. In the paper we present the results of the first 30 consecutive growing patients (15 males and 15 females), with a mean age of 13.69 years (SD = 1.26), who were treated for mandibular retrognathia (skeletal Class II malocclusion), using fixed sagittal guidance (FSG) appliance, individually manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken before (T0) and after (T1) treatment and a detailed cephalometric analysis was performed. with a special focus on a time period for malocclusion correction. The analyzed data were compared with the control group (CG; treated with intermaxillary Class II elastics) that was matched for pretreatment age and pretreatment cephalometric measurements. Both methods were effective in the correction of Class II malocclusion, but the time period of correction was significantly shorter (16.03 ± 1.09 months vs. 20.65 ± 4.12 months) with the FSG appliance. After treatment visual skeletal and dentoalveolar effects were achieved, with statistically significant differences measured in mandibular incisors inclination (0.45° in FSG and 2.84° in CG) and distance (−0.61 mm in FSG and 0.13 mm in CG), in mandibular first molar inclination (−1.07° in FSG and 1.18° in CG) and overbite (−3.82 mm in FSG and −2.46 mm in CG), all in favor of FSG appliance. After the final mean treatment time of 16.03 ± 1.09 months, visual skeletal and dentoalveolar effects were achieved, with significant differences in sagittal (SNB angle, SNPg angle, mandibular length (CoGn) and consequently decrease in ANB angle) as well as in vertical (lower anterior facial height (LAFH) and gonial angle) measurements noted, with no reported complications. As the time needed for malocclusion correction was comparable with the reports in the traditional use of the functional appliance and as all the cosmetical and functional changes in all the treated patients remained stable after a 2-year observational period, growing patients with Class II malocclusion could benefit with this type of treatment. As all the cosmetical and functional changes in all the treated patients remained stable after a 2-year observational period, growing patients with Class II malocclusion could benefit from the treatment with FSG appliance.