Short‐term soft‐ and hard‐tissue changes following Class III treatment using a removable mandibular retractor: a randomized controlled trial

Structured Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of a C lass III functional appliance [the removable mandibular retractor (RMR)] in the early treatment of skeletal C lass III deformities. Set‐up Randomized controlled trial. Setting Orthodontic D epartment, U niversity of A l‐ B aath D ental S chool, H amah, S yria. Material and Methods Sixty‐seven skeletal C lass III patients were recruited, distributed randomly into two groups: 1) treatment group ( T ) with the RMR : 33 patients (17 males and 16 females) with a mean age of 7.5 ± 1.33 years, 2) control group ( C ): 34 patients (15 males and 19 females) with a mean age of 7.3 ± 1.58 years. Lateral cephalograms were taken at the start of treatment ( T 1‐ T ) or at the start of the observation period ( T 1‐ C ) and after 14.5 ± 0.1 months (both groups). Soft‐ and hard‐tissue changes in both groups were evaluated. Results The main significant findings in the treatment group were 1) anterior morphogenetic rotation of the mandible as a result of upward and forward condylar growth; 2) significant increase in maxillary length; 3) significant increase in maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion; 4) significant decrease in mandibular dentoalveolar protrusion; 5) significant protrusion of the upper lip; 6) significant retrusion of the lower lip; and 7) significant reduction in nasolabial angle. Conclusion The RMR is an effective appliance in the treatment of skeletal C lass III patients in the early mixed dentition in the short term.