Efficacia degli apparecchi funzionali nel trattamento delle malocclusioni di II classe : parte 1.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and treatment timing of functional appliances in growing patients affected by class II malocclusion. Materials and methods: This study is based on a literature review (meta-analysis, RCT, CCT) of the last 10 years; the articles selection is based on explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: We selected 14 articles: the functional appliances led to statistically significant skeletal effects in 12 out of 20 samples for the mandibular growth and 1 out of 13 samples for the maxillary one. Conclusions: At a short-term observation, functional appliances produce small beneficial changes in skeletal mandibular pattern, but they have no significant maxillary effects.