Comparison of Soft Tissue Changes Produced by Two Different Appliances on Mixed Dentition Children

OBJECTIVE: This study was focused on comparing and analyzing the soft tissue changes induced by Reverse Twin-Block (RTB) and Reverse Pull Face Mask (RPFM) in early and late mixed dentition Malay children having Class III malocclusion. METHODS: This cross-sectional study includes a total sample of 95 Malay children of both early (8-9 years) and late (10-11 years) mixed dentition stages. The comparison was between 49 samples treated by RTB and 46 samples treated by RPFM. Both pre- and posttreatment changes were assessed with Holdaway's analysis using the CASSOS software. In each cephalogram, 71 anatomic landmarks were traced. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes were noticed in soft tissue facial angle, subnasale to H-line, skeletal profile convexity, upper lip strain, H-line angle, lower lip to H-line, and inferior sulcus to H-line measurements. Gender disparity was noticed in upper lip strain. Other significant changes were influenced by the type of appliance. However, the mean differences were minute to notice clinically. Age difference did not have any effect on the treatment changes. CONCLUSIONS: RPFM revealed treatment outcome with more protruded upper lip than RTB.