Class II Early Treatment: Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Eruption Guided Appliances

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the cephalometric effects of RME (rapid maxillary expander) and EGA (Eruption Guidance Therapy) therapy in Class II growing patients. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with transversal maxillary contraction and skeletal Class II (ANB >4°). For all the patients, frontal and lateral teleradiographs were obtained at the beginning of therapy and at the end of the functional treatment. Cephalometric analysis was performed on each radiograph at the beginning of treatment (T0) and at the end of the functional therapy (T1) considering difference among the sagittal, vertical and transverse cephalometric values. Results and Conclusions: The therapeutic protocol proposed in this study represents a simple and easy repeatable alternative for II class treatment and permits to obtain consistent and reliable results with important effects on the sagittal dimension, shown in the decrease of ANB and the increase of SNB angles, and vertical dimension. However, the lack of customization of functional therapy and the need for compliance by the patient are limitations that need to be addressed.