Dentoskeletal Changes Following Headgear Therapy In Class II Malocclusion

Objectives: Cervical headgear is widely used to modify sagital growth in growing patients, however, can affect vertical growth as well. The purpose of this cephalometric retrospective study was to examine dentoskeletal changes following headgear therapy.

Methods: 24 growing patients (7 male, 17 female,mean age= 11.68) treated with cervical headgear (with long outer bow tilted 12-15 degrees upward and 200-300 grams force per side)along with full edgewise appliances. Cephalometric data (13 cephalometric variable, 3linear, 10angular) were obtained from pretreatment and post treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs for each patient.

Results: The mean extrusion of first maxillary molars was 1.18 mm that shows significant increase (p=0.000). Also, upper first molars rotated 7.43 degrees counterclockwise (significant rotation, p=0.023).Palatal plane rotated 1.58 clockwise (significant, p=0.010). SNA, SNB, ANB angles didn't show any significant changes. Also, there were no significant differences in occlusal plane angle and facial height index between pretreatment and post treatment.

Conclusions: During treatment, Combination of growth and treatment effects can cause extrusion and counterclockwise rotation of upper first molar and clockwise rotation of palatal plane. On the other hand, the results show that treatment with (orthodontic) cervical headgear does not alter the vertical and horizontal facial growth.