Respiratory Repercussions Due to Mandibular Advancement in Children and Adolescents with Mandibular Class II Malocclusion: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study

Abstract To test the improvement in airway patency after mandibular advancement with functional appliances as a treatment for growing patients with skeletal Class II caused by mandibular retrognathism. Determining which functional mandibular advancement appliance has the greatest effect on the augmentation of the upper and lower pharyngeal airways. A series of measurements were made according to Arnett’s analysis in the lateral teleradiographies of the skull using the Nemoceph program to evaluate how the upper and lower airways are modified at sagittal level pre- and post-treatment, with different types of mandibular advancement appliances and in growing patients with age ranges from 8 to 15 years. There are statistically significant differences in craniometric points A, MCI and Pg in contrast to other studies with the same cephalometric analysis, where craniometric point B presented a greater increase of mm after advancement. There is an improvement in mandibular Class II skeletal malocclusion after the use of mandibular advancement appliances, and more changes are observed in the A, MCI and Pg points, confirming improvement in upper air patency.