Clarifying the mechanism of effect of the Bionator for treatment of maxillary protrusion: A percentile growth study.

AIM: The reported effects of Bionator treatment in patients with mandibular retrognathism are conflicting. This study evaluated the changes in craniofacial morphology resulting from treatment with a Bionator, based on measurement percentiles previously reported, to clarify the mechanism of the effect of this commonly used functional device.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Design: Retrospective.

SETTING: A private orthodontic clinic.

PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two children (mean age, 10.13 years) requiring treatment with a Bionator for Class II malocclusion (mandibular retrognathism). Children were randomly assigned to a Bionator group with or without an expansion screw. Measurements on lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken before and upon completion of Bionator treatment. All parameters measured were characterised according to the measurement percentiles previously reported. Each parameter was compared before and after treatment for all patients and for each treatment group using Wilcoxon's test.

RESULTS: No significant differences in cranial length or mandibular body length were seen in any of the 3 groups, but anterior cranial base length and maxillary length were significantly decreased while mandibular ramus height and mandibular length were significantly increased after treatment in the Bionator with expansion screw group and in the all-patient group.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that treatment with a Bionator with expansion screw during the growth and development stage results in increased mandible length and ramus height and inhibits the growth of the maxilla and anterior cranial base bone.