Short‐term effects of a modified Alt‐RAMEC protocol for early treatment of Class III malocclusion: a controlled study. (7th July 2014) - Masucci, C.
Structured Abstract Objectives To assess the effects of a modified alternate rapid maxillary expansion and constriction (Alt‐RAMEC) protocol in combination with facemask (FM) in Class III growing patients. Setting and Sample Population Thirty one Class III patients (17 males, 14 females) were treated with a modified Alt‐RAMEC/FM protocol at the Department of Orthodontics of the University of Florence. Material and Methods All patients were evaluated at the beginning (T1, mean age 6.4 ± 0.8 years) and at the end of orthopedic therapy (T2, mean age 8.1 ± 0.9 years), and they were compared to a matched sample of 31 Class III patients (16 males and 15 females) treated with rapid maxillary expansion and facemask (RME/FM) and to a matched control group of 21 subjects (9 males and 12 females) with untreated Class III malocclusion. The three groups were compared with anova with Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple tests. Results Both the Alt‐RAMEC/FM and the RME/FM protocols showed significantly favorable effects leading to correction of the Class III malocclusion. The Alt‐RAMEC/FM protocol produced a more effective advancement of the maxilla (SNA +1.2°) and greater intermaxillary changes (ANB +1.7°) vs. the RME/FM protocol. No significant differences were recorded as for mandibular skeletal changes and vertical skeletal relationships. Conclusion The Alt‐RAMEC/FM protocol induced more favorable skeletal short‐term effects compared with RME/FM therapy in Class III growing patients.