Researchers looked at how two types of dental devices, called functional appliances, affect the growth of the jaw joints in children with a specific bite alignment known as Class II malocclusion. They reviewed data from 258 patients to see how these devices changed the shape and position of the bone structures over time.
The study found that Twin Block appliances led to significant increases in condylar volume and moved the jaw forward. In contrast, Herbst appliances showed more modest changes to the size of the joint while keeping the relationship between the joint and its socket relatively stable. These findings suggest that different devices can affect the jaw's growth in different ways.
It is important to note that the evidence for some changes, like how the bone socket reshapes itself, was inconsistent across studies. Because the data is varied and not always clear, these results are currently considered inconclusive for certain parts of the joint. These findings show that while jaw joints do adapt during treatment, the extent of those changes varies depending on the specific device used.
