Evaluation of natural head position changes in the treatment of class II malocclusions with functional appliance

Abstract

Objectives: The position of the head to the neck is affected by various factors, including respiratory tract features, temporomandibular joint disorders, type of occlusion, and physical aspects. In addition, malocclusion can negatively affect the head-neck position. The present study aimed to evaluate changes in natural head position following treatment of Class II malocclusions with Farmand II functional appliance. Material and Methods: The present study was implemented as a historical cohort with the before and after design. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 33 skeletal Class II patients treated with the Farmand II functional appliance were included in the present study. The cephalometric analysis was done by tracing the related lines and landmarks. Facial angles and angles determining the natural head and neck position including craniohorizontal, craniocervical, craniovertical (CCV), and cervical curvature (CCI) were measured. Collected data were entered in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)-version 17 software. Paired t-test was used to evaluate the changes in cephalometric indices before and after treatment. P < 0.05 was defined to be statistically significant for all the tests. Results: The results of the present study, showed a significant reduction in the mean values of A point, nasion, B point (ANB) angle and angle of convexity following treatment (P < 0.001); also, Sella-nasion/Odontoid process tangent (SN/OPT) angle showed a substantial decrease in treated patients (P = 0.033), which is indicative of head flexion following treatment. Moreover, the decrease in the mean values of the craniocervical angles, including True vertical line (NL/VER) and Sella-nasion/true vertical line (SN/VER), suggests downward bending of the head in patients treated with this appliance (P-values of 0.029 and 0.012, respectively). The odontoid process tangent/ cervical vertebra tangent (OPT/CVT) angle showed an insignificant increase (P = 0.260). Conclusion: The present study showed that patients treated with the Farmand II functional appliance tend to flex their heads and maintain their cervical vertebra in a more upright and straight position.