Fixed Treatment of Retroposition of the Mandible - A Literature Review

Aim: Collection and classification of commercially available fixed appliances for treatment of retroposition of the mandible. Material and Methods: Internet search on manufacturers' websites as well as reading orthodontic literature fixed appliances for mandibular advancement therapy were collected. Only commercially available appliances were included. The appliances were arranged according to a 5-Point-Classification. Literature on the appliances was found via an additional PubMed-Search. Results: 35 appliances for Class II treatment were found. 14 were rigid, 15 elastic and 6 were hybrid intermaxillary appliances for mandibular advancement therapy. 5 of the elastic intermaxillary appliances substitute Class-II-Elastics (springs ligated to the multibracket-appliance, no patient compliance required), advancing the mandible in a pulling manner. With the exception of the last 5 appliances mentioned, all other appliances advance the mandible in a pushing manner. Conclusion: Because of the diversity of the technical features, a simple universal classification is not possible. The 5-point classification has proven to be a helpful tool for daily practice. It is able to document underlying basic concepts of the appliances. The quantity of literature found for the single appliances significantly differed.