Short-term and long-term treatment outcomes with Class III activator

Hyo-Kyung Ryu; Hyun-Jeong Chong; Ki-Yong An; Kyung-Hwa Kang

doi:10.4041/kjod.2015.45.5.226

Short-term and long-term treatment outcomes with Class III activator

Korean J Orthod. 2015 Sep;45(5):226-35. doi: 10.4041/kjod.2015.45.5.226. Epub 2015 Sep 23.

Authors

Hyo-Kyung Ryu¹, Hyun-Jeong Chong², Ki-Yong An³, Kyung-Hwa Kang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
² Private Practice, Iksan, Korea.
³ Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Korea.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate short-term and long-term skeletodental outcomes of Class III activator treatment.

Methods: A Class III activator treatment group (AG) comprised of 22 patients (9 boys, 13 girls) was compared with a Class III control group (CG) comprised of 17 patients (6 boys, 11 girls). The total treatment period was divided into three stages; the initial stage (T1), the post-activator treatment or post-mandibular growth peak stage (T2), and the long-term follow-up stage (T3). Cephalometric changes were evaluated statistically via the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Friedman test.

Results: The AG exhibited significant increases in the SNA angle, ANB angle, Wits appraisal, A point-N perpendicular, Convexity of A point, and proclination of the maxillary incisors, from T1 to T2. In the long-term follow-up (T1-T3), the AG exhibited significantly greater increases in the ANB angle, Wits appraisal, and Convexity of A point than the CG.

Conclusions: Favorable skeletal outcomes induced during the Class III activator treatment period were generally maintained until the long-term follow-up period of the post-mandibular growth peak stage.

Keywords: Class III activator; Skeletodental changes.