Cranial base and maxillary changes in patients treated with Frankel’s functional regulator (1b)

• Published in: Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal patología oral y cirugía bucal, 2012-07, Vol.17 (4), p.e689-e696
• Main Authors: Alió-Sanz, Juan J., Iglesias-Conde, Carmen, Lorenzo-Pernía, Jose, Iglesias-Linares, Alejandro, Mendoza-Mendoza, Asunción, Solano-Reina, Enrique
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical and Experimental Dentistry
• ISSN: 1698-4447; 1698-6946
• DOI: 10.4317/medoral.17631

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess cranial base and maxillary growth in patients with Class II-type I malocclusions when treated with Frankel’s functional regulator (FR-1b). Study Design: The treatment group was made up of 43 patients that were divided into two groups: prepubescent (n: 28), and pubescent (n: 15). The control group included 40 patients who did not receive any kind of treatment and were likewise divided into a prepubescent group (n: 19), and a pubescent group (n: 21). A computerized cephalometric study was carried out and superimpositions were done in order to assess the antero-posterior, vertical and rotational movement of the maxilla. Results: The results indicate that anterior cranial length is not affected by the regulator but the cranial deflection of the treatment group was diminished. Although a slight counterclockwise rotation effect on the upper jaw was observed due to treatment, no growth restriction of the maxilla in a vertical or antero-posterior direction was observed compared to other non-treated Class II-type I malocclusion patients. Conclusion: The functional regulator does not have any effect on anterior cranial length, but it does affect the angulation of the cranial base. According to our results, the appliance has demonstrated a flattening effect of the cranial base (p