The Effects of Farmand Functional Appliance on Facial Soft Tissue Profile

Abstract

Statement of Problem: Considering the high prevalence of Class II malocclusions and its side effects on facial esthetic, treatment of patients with functional therapy may improve their facial esthetic.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment effects of Farmand appliance on the facial soft tissue profile in patients with Class II divI malocclusion with mandibular deficiency.Materials and Methods: In this pre-post clinical trial study, 35 patients with class II div I malocclusion were selected, and treated by Farmand functional appliance for 11 months. The age range of the females was 10-13 years and for the males it was 11-14 years. Pre- and post- treatment cephalometric radiographs of the patients were traced. Treatment changes were analyzed by certain linear and angular measurements of the soft tissue profile and lips. Paird t-test was used to compare the differences of the mean values Pre- and post- treatment.Results: In this study, the mentolabial angle was increased (p=0.001) and the lower labial sulcus depth (p=0.003) was decreased. These changes were statistically significant. The thickness of the upper lip showed a statistically significant increase (p=0.001), which resulted in detectable decrease in the strain of the upper lip (p=0.001). The thickness and hight of the lips were closed to a the normal range. The position of the lips also improved to the B, E and H plans. Conclusion: Treatment with Farmand functional appliance in patients with Class II div I leads to significant alteration in the soft tissue profile and improvement of the nose, lips and chin relationships.Key words: Functional appliance, Angle class II, Malocclusion, Soft tissue