A retrospective cephalometric evaluation of dental changes with activator and activator headgear combination in the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusion.

AIM The aims of this study were to evaluate the dental changes brought about by activator and activator headgear combination (ACHG) and to determine whether we can achieve control over the lower incisor proclination which is a side effect of using functional appliances; or not, while treating cases of skeletal class II malocclusions. METHODS Lateral cephalograms of 45 skeletal class II division 1 patients were selected for the study. Fifteen of them were successfully treated with an Andresen activator and the other 15 with an activator headgear combination. Fifteen class II subjects who had declined treatment served as the control group. Cephalometric landmarks were marked by one author to avoid interobserver variability. RESULTS The results revealed that both the activator and the activator headgear combination significantly (p < 0.001) affected dental variables measured. The mandibular incisor proclination was effectively controlled in the activator headgear combination group. CONCLUSION An activator headgear combination would offer itself as a better option compared with activator alone in the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusions especially in cases with proclined mandibular incisors. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE When one of the treatment goals is to achieve a greater control over mandibular incisor proclination in the treatment of Skeletal Class II malocclusions, employing a combination of activator and headgear may substantially improve clinical outcomes.