The effects of face mask and tongue appliance on maxillary deficiency in growing patients: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this randomized trial study was to compare the effects of facemask and Tongue appliance in treatment of Class III malocclusion with maxillary deficiency in growing patients.

MATERIALS &

METHODS

45 patients (22 males, 23 females) with maxillary deficiency were selected and randomly assigned to 2 groups. 22 patients (10 boys, 12 girls) with the mean age of 9.3 years±1.2 years were treated with facemask. 23 patients (12 boys, 11 girls) with the mean age of 10.1 years±0.7 years were treated by Tongue appliance. Lateral cephalograms obtained at the beginning and end of the study were analyzed.

RESULTS

Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon test showed that SNA and ANB significantly increased in both groups. Mann-Whitney test showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups except for Jarabak ratio and Upper 1 to SN. U1 to SN increased by 11.1±6.9° in fixed facemask group and 2.5±6.1° in Tongue appliance group (P<0.001). Both treatment modalities were successful in moving the maxilla forward. However, the upper incisors had more labial inclination in the facemask group.