The effects of functional treatment on the sagittal position of the mandibular condyle.

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of functional treatment appliances, a U-Bugel type I activator and a conventional activator, on the mandibular condyle considering the sagittal direction. Alterations in the growth direction and quantity of the condyle effects the ramal inclination and, consequently, the whole mandible. This situation is important when considering treatment prognosis and stability. The material consisted of pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist films of 49 individuals having skeletal and dental Class II/div.1 malocclusions. Although the elimination of overjet and correction of Class II/div.1 anomalies was achieved, statistically significant changes were not observed in the sagittal direction of the mandibular condyle.