Improvement in Soft Tissue Profile & Upper Airway Dimensions Following Forsus FRD – A Prospective Clinical Study

Aim: To assess improvement of soft tissue profile and upper airway dimensions in skeletal Class II adolescent patients treated with Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FRD). Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was planned with a sample size of 15 subjects (5 male & 10 female) diagnosed with mandibular hypoplasia as a cause of Class II malocclusion, requiring fixed functional therapy, with the inclusion criteria of age of 16-25 yrs with the ANB value range of 4°+2° with a non-extraction treatment plan. Pre-functional records were recorded once the leveling and alignment phase was complete and Forsus FRD attachments were placed. Treatment continued till the desired objectives were achieved. Post functional records were made at the end of functional therapy, after removal of Forsus FRD. Along with soft tissue analysis on lateral cephalogram, Acoustic Pharyngometry (AP) was recorded for each patient (Eccovision®” (sleep group solutions Florida, US) for airway changes before and after Forsus FRD. Results: Post functional treatment indicated statistically significant changes in nasolabial angle, upper lip position, upper lip strain, H angle and mento-labial sulcus. On evaluation of upper airway dimensions of the subjects by pharyngometry , there were statistically significant changes in mean upper airway volume and area. Conclusion: Study concluded that Forsus FRD is an effective method for correction of skeletal Class II malocclusion among adolescent patients, enhancing marked improvement in soft tissue profile of the patients, along with significant increase in volume and area of hypopharyngeal and oropharyngeal spaces, thus improving the upper airway patency.