Abstract

Skeletal Class II Treatment in Growing Patients: Which Is a Rationale Timeline?

by Contardo Luca

Orthodontic treatment of Class II patients is to date still a controversial topic. In fact, the scientific community is still arguing about the real possibility of a skeletal correction of these malocclusions. The therapeutic approach for Class II malocclusions requires a deep understanding of the growth dynamics of these subjects, and the most recent literature highlights how their development is much more complex than previously theorized and occurs mainly during the prepubertal growth phase. The main orthopedics results can be achieved only if treatment is carried out during the pubertal growth peak, by taking advantage of the overall growth and development of the patient. For this reason, identification of the pubertal growth phase is paramount, and the Middle Phalanx Maturation method appears to be the most reliable and scientifically sound method. Despite that, a lot of questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding the rate of orthopaedic success in very young patients. In fact, studies are increasingly suggesting the presence of an additional prepubertal growth peak, and its temporal identification is one of the next big challenges in functional orthodontics.

Learning Objectives

After this lecture, you will be able to understanding the importance of Timing of Class II orthodontic therapy.
After this lecture, you will be able to understanding of the growth pattern of a class II subject.
After this lecture, you will be able to understanding of the time line of intervention in subjects with Class II skeletal malocclusion