EFFECTIVENESS OF USING THE FACIAL ARCH IN CHILDREN FOR DISTAL MOVEMENT OF PERMANENT MOLARS OF THE UPPER JAW

Abstract

Abnormalities of the dentition in children are a common problem that can lead to functional and aesthetic disorders, negatively affecting the quality of life of patients. One of the key tasks of orthodontic treatment is the distalization of the permanent molars of the upper jaw to create the necessary space in the dentition and correct occlusion. The use of the facial arch is one of the methods of distal molar movement, but the issues of its effectiveness and conditions of use remain relevant. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of using the facial arch for distal movement of permanent molars of the upper jaw in children. Materials and methods. The study involved children aged 8 to 11 years with dentoalveolar abnormalities. A standard facial arch with stoppers and a neck bandage was used, which patients were advised to wear for a certain number of hours daily. To evaluate changes in the morphological structure of the facial skull, lateral projection teleradiography was performed before and after treatment.A statistically significant difference between alternative quantitative features with a distribution corresponding to the normal law was evaluated using Student’s t-test. The difference was considered statistically significant at p<0.01. Research results. The use of the facial arch contributed to the distal displacement of the first permanent molars of the upper jaw in most patients, which allowed for normalization of occlusion and creation of additional space in the dentition. Spontaneous distal movement of premolars and a slight oral tilt of the maxillary incisors were also observed. The effectiveness of the treatment largely depended on the level of cooperation with the patients, since successful distalization required prolonged and regular wearing of the appliance. Conclusions. The use of the facial arch is an effective method of distalization of the permanent molars of the upper jaw in children, which helps to correct dentition anomalies and improve functional status. The successful application of the method depends on a high level of cooperation with the patient and compliance with the recommendations regarding the wearing regimen of the appliance. The results emphasize the importance of further research to optimize orthodontic treatment methods in children.