Pharyngeal airway changes in pre-pubertal children with Class II malocclusion after Fränkel-2 treatment

Authors

  • G Fabiani Orthodontic Postgraduate student, Orthodontic Postgraduate Program, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples
  • J Galván Galván PhD student, Department of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • G Raucci Orthodontic Postgraduate student, Orthodontic Postgraduate Program, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples
  • M Elyasi PhD student, Department of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • C Pachêco-Pereira Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • C Flores-Mir Professor and Chair of the Graduate Orthodontic Program, Department of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • L Perillo Professor, Head of Orthodontic Unit and Chair of the Orthodontic Postgraduate Program, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2017.18.04.05

Keywords:

Fränkel-2, Functional appliances, Oropharynx, Pharynx, Pre-pubertal, Upper airway dimensional changes

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate two-dimensional changes in pharyngeal airway dimensions in pre-pubertal children with a Class II malocclusion treated with a Fränkel-2 appliance compared to a matched non-treated control sample. METHODS: Lateral cephalograms obtained from 28 consecutively treated pre-pubertal children before (T0) and after (T1) a one-year Fränkel-2 treatment were analysed. Fränkel-2 appliance was used for at least 18 hr/day during 12 months. The control group was matched as closely as possible. All the cases presented normal facial growth pattern. Sagittal and vertical cephalometric measurements assessing maxillary and mandibular skeletal positions, as well as sagittal pharyngeal airway dimensions, were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated in order to determine reliability. Differences based on age for all the outcome variables at T0 were compared with an independent t-test. A MANOVA was used thereafter to determine if any factors and their interactions were associated with changes in the outcome variables. Differences between T1 and T0 were evaluated with either a t-student test or a Mann Whitney U test.