THE EFFECT AND RELAPSE PATTERN OF FACEMASK THERAPY FOR CLASS III MALOCCLUSION CHILDREN

Kim, Ji-Yeon; Yoo, Seung-Eun; Lee, Ji-Hyun; Park, Ki-Tae

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2009;36(3):420-426.
Published online August 31, 2009.

THE EFFECT AND RELAPSE PATTERN OF FACEMASK THERAPY FOR CLASS III MALOCCLUSION CHILDREN

Ji-Yeon Kim, Seung-Eun Yoo, Ji-Hyun Lee, Ki-Tae Park

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine

유치열기 3급 부정교합 환아에서 facemask의 효과와 재발 양상

김지연, 유승은, 이지현, 박기태

성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 소아치과

Correspondence: Ki-Tae Park, Tel: 02-3410-2426, Email: park2426@skku.edu

Received: 3 December 2008 • Accepted: 16 May 2009

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate skeletal and soft tissue changes that occur after using a facemask for treatment of skeletal class III malocclusion, and to assess the relapse pattern when no retention appliance was used. Fifteen skeletal class III malocclusion patients were treated with a facemask for an average of 12 months. No retention appliance was used during the 1 year follow-up period. Cephalograms were taken during pretreatment, posttreatment, and the 1 year follow-up. Cephalograms were traced, analyzed, and the results were compared between cephalograms. All patients showed significant sagittal skeletal changes after treatment, but they also showed a significant relapse during the 1 year follow-up period when no retention appliance was used. Despite the relapse, the sagittal skeletal changes that remained were still significant. Vertical skeletal change was also significant after treatment, but the total change was not significant after a 1 year follow-up due to relapse. In soft tissue changes, facial convexity and upper lip position improved after treatment and this change remained significant after the 1 year follow-up period. Facemask therapy is therefore an effective method for treatment of skeletal class III malocclusion, however, retention is imperative to maintain the treatment effect.

Key Words: Facemask, Class III malocclusion, Anterior crossbite, Primary dentition