Changes in respiratory and cardiac functions of mandibular deficient patients after treatment with a removable functional appliance

Background: There is no study on respiratory or cardiac function of mandibular deficient patients before or after treatment. This preliminary trial was conducted for the first time to assess respiratory/cardiac parameters of such patients before and after treatment (compared to healthy controls) with a removable functional appliance.Materials and Methods: This before-after clinical trial was performed on ۲۰ patients with Class II division ۱ malocclusion (mandibular deficiency with normal maxilla) and ۲۰ matched control subjects at the peak of the mandibular growth spurt. Bionator removable functional appliance was used for ۹ months to treat Class II cases. Capnography and pulse oximetry were used to record respiratory parameters (end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO۲)), respiration rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SPO۲), and pulse rate (PR)). Groups were compared using paired and unpaired t tests (α=۰.۰۵).Results: CO۲ and O۲ did not change significantly after treatment (P>۰.۵, paired t-test). However, respiratory rate and pulse rate reduced significantly after the treatment (P۰.۱). O۲ in healthy subjects was not different from pre-treatment or post-treatment values in Cl II patients (P>۰.۲, independent-samples t-test). The respiratory rate in healthy controls differed from pre-treatment (P

Keywords:

Respiratory function tests , Heart Function Tests , Functional Appliance , Orthodontics , Corrective , Quality of Life