Functional appliance therapy with U-Bow activator

Zahida Najam; Usman Ahmed; Ayesha Aslam

Author(s)

Zahida Najam Department of Orthodontics, Frontier Medical & Dental College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Usman Ahmed Department of Orthodontics, MIHS, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Ayesha Aslam Dept. of Orthodontics, AFID, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Abstract

Introduction: U bow activator can be used to enhance the dentofacial appearance by combined skeletal and dentoalveolar effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in sagittal plane that can be brought by using U bow activator. Material and Methods: Sixty patients in the age range of 9-14 years were selected for this study. The patients were included if they had Class II skeletal pattern with ANB greater than 4° and retrognathic mandible. A custom fabricated U bow activator was given to each patient for full time wear. On the basis of improvement in cephalometric readings and facial profile these patients were categorized into groups of major improvement and minor improvement. Results: The readings of pretreatment and post treatment cephalograms were compared and it was shown that 35 (58.9%) of the patients had major improvement whereas 8 (13.9%) showed mild improvement. 15 patients (25.0%) proved uncooperative in terms of compliance for appliance wear whereas 2 (3.9%) failed to return for follow up visits. Conclusions: U bow activator plays vital role in functional jaw orthopedics, if treatment is initiated during peak pubertal growth spurt, maximum results may be achieved.

Publication Details

Page(s) 103-105

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Pakistan Orthodontic Journal, Volume: 9, Issue: 2, Year: 2017

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Keywords

Functional appliances, retrognathic mandible, Sagittal discrepancy