Aim: To test the hypothesis that skeletal and dentoalveolar effects are both important in skeletal class II malocclusion corrected with the Forsus fatigue-resistant device (FRD).
Materials and methods: A total of 35 patients (16 females and 19 males; age 12.0 ± 0.6 years) with skeletal class II malocclusion treated with the Forsus FRD were included. Lateral cephalometric radiographies before and after treatment were collected. Cephalometric analysis and superimpositions were applied. Pancherz's analysis was performed to discover the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects on all patients and 60% contribution was set as a milestone to classify. Statistical comparisons were performed by paired t testing (p < 0.05).
Results: The mean treatment period of the Forsus FRD was 6.4 ± 0.2 months. All patients (AG) have been corrected to class I molar relationship in three mechanisms: 15 patients in the skeletal group (SG), 10 patients in the dentoalveolar group (DG), and 10 patients in the skeletal and dentoalveolar group (SDG). Four groups showed a significant change in skeletal sagittal relationship improvement (p < 0.05). The AG, SG, and SDG showed a significant improvement in the growth of the mandible (Co-Go, Go-Pog, and Co-Gn, p < 0.05). The DG showed a significant improvement in the growth of the mandibular body (Go-Pog, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Three mechanisms were found in skeletal class II malocclusion corrected with the Forsus FRD. Skeletal and dentoalveolar effects are both important in skeletal class II malocclusion corrected with the Forsus FRD. And skeletal and dentoalveolar effects played differential roles in different cases.
Clinical significance: The mechanism of skeletal class II correction with Forsus FRD may divide into mandibular growth, dentoalveolar effects, and both.
Keywords: Class II malocclusion; Dentoalveolar effects; Forsus fatigue-resistant device Skeletal effects..