Study on mandibular changes produced by skeletal anchorage assisted orthopedic traction

Today, during the 89th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research and the 35th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, lead researcher T. Nguyen will hold an oral presentation on a study titled "Mandibular Changes Produced by Skeletal Anchorage Assisted Orthopedic Traction."

The objective of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional changes in the mandible and glenoid fossa of consecutive skeletal Class III patients treated with bone-anchored maxillary protraction. Twenty consecutive skeletal Class III patients between the ages of 9 and13 were treated using Class III intermaxillary elastics and bilateral miniplates (2 in the infra-zygomatic crests of the maxilla and 2 in the anterior mandible). The patients had cone beam computed tomographies (CBCTs) taken before initial loading (T1), and one year out (T2). Three-dimensional models were generated from the CBCTs, registered on the anterior cranial base and analyzed using color-maps.

Miniplates assisted orthopedic traction produced sagittal skeletal changes. Posterior displacement of the mandible at T2 was observed for all subjects for the condyles and 0.56mm (SD +/-1.55) for the chin). Remodeling of the glenoid fossa at the anterior eminence (0.89mm +/- 1.38) apposition and resorption at the posterior wall (0.72mm +/- 0.45) was observed in most patients. This new treatment approach induces a favorable control of mandibular growth for patients with components of mandibular prognathism. Futures studies with long-term follow-up and comparisons to facemask/chincup therapies are needed to better understand the treatment effects.

Source: International & American Association for Dental Research