Class II functional appliance treatment and dynamic three‐dimensional mimic muscle evaluation

Abstract

Background Functional appliances have skeletal and dentoalveolar treatment effects, but knowledge on their effect on facial expressions is limited. Objective To analyse changes in facial expressions, using three‐dimensional (3D) mimic muscle evaluation, in growing children with Class II malocclusion and large overjet, undergoing functional appliance treatment. Methods Fifteen growing children with Class II division 1 malocclusion, selected prospectively, had dynamic 3D recordings of facial expressions prior to and 12 months after commencing functional appliance treatment. Facial expressions recorded were smile and lip pucker, and the movements of the oral commissures were analysed, as well as mouth width and its symmetry. A control group of fifteen age‐ and sex‐matched growing children without immediate need for orthodontic treatment had similar recordings prior to and after a 12‐month observation period. Results In the treatment group, the Class II malocclusion in all children improved after 12 months of functional appliance wear. With regard to movements of the oral commissures, the initial recordings of the treatment group did not show any significant differences to the control group for neither smile nor lip pucker. Differences were noted however when looking at mouth width asymmetry, where this tended to become more symmetrical in the functional appliance treatment group, during rest and during smiling, while it became more asymmetrical in the untreated control group. Conclusion The use of removable functional appliances in children with Class II division 1 malocclusion may have a positive effect on mouth width symmetry when smiling, making it more symmetrical.

Evaluation of mandibular motion in adolescents with skeletal class II division 1 malocclusion during mandibular advancement using clear functional aligners: a prospective study

“…Therefore, it was speculated that the condylar movement symmetry increased after CFA treatment. These findings are consistent with the results obtained by Antonarakis and Kiliaridis[ 32 ], who revealed a trend toward greater symmetry after MA treatment compared with pre-treatment conditions. Previous occlusal studies revealed that the occlusal interference was reduced and that the occlusion became more balanced and stable in patients with class II malocclusion after orthodontic treatment[ 44 ].…”

“…And Blaschke et al [ 31 ] reported that these spatial variations might not be clinically meaningful. In contrast, the study by Antonarakis et al [ 32 ] on facial expressions revealed that adolescents with Class II Division 1 malocclusion exhibited greater asymmetry in mouth width during repose and while smiling than adolescents with Class I malocclusion. The facial expression and activity of the masticatory muscles in the cephalofacial region are related to neuromuscular control functions.…”

Range of motion (ROM) in the lips and jaw during vowels assessed with 3D motion analysis in Swedish children with typical speech development and children with speech sound disorders

“…In this study, ROM in lips and jaw was measured using the SmartEyeV R Pro-MME (Mimic Muscle Evaluation) (SmartEye AB, Gothenburg). MME is an add-on that tracks lip and jaw movements and has been shown to be a reliable instrument in earlier studies [41,[43][44][45]. The SmartEyeV R Pro system was originally a head and gaze tracking system that measure head pose and gaze direction in full 3D.…”

Myobrace versus twin block in the treatment of class II malocclusion in Children: A systematic review

“…( Rongo et al, 2019 , Perrotta et al, 2019 , Idris et al, 2019 ) Numerous myofunctional gadgets have been created since Newel first introduced the mouth screen in 1912, these include twin oral screens and oral shields. ( Tentolouri et al, 2021 , Antonarakis and Kiliaridis, 2019 , Brierly, 2017 ).…”