The Effects of Maxillary Protraction Appliance (MPA) Depending on Vertical Facial Patterns

Preadolescent children with deficient maxillae are suitable candidates for the maxillary protraction appliance(MPA). The theoretical effect of the MPA is protraction or anterior displacement of the maxilla. However, it is known that complex effects such as anterior displacement of the maxillary teeth, downward and backward rotation of the mandible, linguoversion of the mandibular anterior incisors, are known to play a role in improving the Cl III malocclusion. There have been much studies with regard to maxillary protraction, but the different effects of MPAs depending on the vertical facial pattern are not known precisely. This study was based on 67 patients (31 males, 36 females) aged from 6 years 6 months to 13 years 3months, who visited the Dept. of Orthodontics at Yonsei Univ., Dental Hospital and diagnosed as skeletal Class III with maxillary deficiency. They were divided into 3 groups (low, average, high angle groups) depending on genial angle and the SNMP (Go-Gn) angle, respectively. Pretreatment and post-treatment lateral cephalograms were used to compare the effects of MPA and the following conclusions were obtained: 1) A significantly large amount of backward movement of the B point was observed in patients with a low SNMP angle. Those with a high SNMP angle had significant forward movement at A point. 2) The patients with low genial angle had the least forward movement at the A point, and those with a high angle had more forward movement. 3) In comparing the arcTan of the A point, the high angle group showed more horizontal movement while the low angle group showed more vertical movement. 4) There was no significance between the treatment duration of the SNMP and the Genial angle groups.ope