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Skeletal, Dentoalveolar, and Soft Tissue Changes Following Prefabricated Functional Appliance Treatment for Functional Anterior Crossbite in Mixed Dentition

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of a prefabricated functional appliance (PFA) for managing functional anterior crossbite during the mixed dentition phase and to assess its potential applicability as an interceptive treatment modality. Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females) presenting with anterior crossbite were treated with Pre-Ortho® Type 3 exclusively. Participants were instructed to wear the appliance for 1 hour during the day and continuously while sleeping. Compliance was monitored according to the caregiver’s instructions. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained at pretreatment (T0) and posttreatment (T1) and analyzed using a total of 16 angular and linear variables, respectively, to assess for skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue changes. The cephalometric examination was conducted using V-Ceph™ 8.0 (Osstem, Seoul, South Korea) and ON3D software (3D ONS Inc., Seoul, Korea). Correction of the anterior crossbite was achieved in all patients after treatment. The statistically significant changes included an increased ANB angle and a decreased SNB angle. The dental changes involved maxillary incisor proclination and mandibular incisor retroclination. We observed forward displacement of the upper lip relative to the E-plane. These findings suggest that PFA could be an effective treatment for the initial correction of functional anterior crossbite, leading to favorable dentoalveolar, skeletal, and soft tissue changes. However, considering the short-term nature of this study, further longitudinal follow-up is necessary to evaluate the long-term stability of these therapeutic effects.

Source: THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN ACADEMY OF PEDTATRIC DENTISTRY

DOI: 10.5933/jkapd.2025.52.4.496

Authors: Wonbin Seo, Eungyung Lee, Soyoung Park, Taesung Jeong, Jonghyun Shin

Institutions: Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Pusan National University

Language: English

Topic: Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Subfield: Orthodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Health Industry Development Institute