New Solution in the Treatment of Children with Class II Malocclusion: Biblock Appliance

Abstract

Background: A new design, the Biblock appliance, was developed for the functional treatment of Class II malocclusions. Aim: To compare the effects of Biblock appliance (BA) and Activator appliance (AA) on the skeleton, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue in Class II malocclusions. Methods: Thirty-five patients with mandibular retrognathia caused by skeletal Class II malocclusion and normodivergent growth pattern were included in this study. After selecting the BA group (n = 17, 8 boys and 9 girls, mean age = 12.08 ± 0.37 years), we selected the active control group treated with AA (n = 18, 9 boys and 9 girls, mean age = 12.3 ± 0.27 years), which matched the BA group’s development and gender. All patients were between PP2 = DP3u periods according to hand–wrist maturation. Cephalometric variables related to the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue were measured. Results: Treatment duration was 18.17 ± 1.45 months with BA and 16.92 ± 1.09 months with AA. Skeletal Class II malocclusion improved significantly in both groups. In the compared groups, the increase in ANS-Me was significantly higher in the AA group (P < 0.05). The Cd⊥SN and S-Cd increase in the compared groups was significantly higher in the BA group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in measurements between the groups in skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue measurements (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The effects of AA, an appliance accepted by the orthodontic community, and BA, a new design, on the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue were similar.