Fixed functional appliances: An overview

Functional appliances have been used since the 1930s. Despite this relatively long history, there continues to be much confusion relating to their use, method of action, and effectiveness. These appliances alter the arrangement of various muscle groups that influence the function and position of the mandible in order to trasmit forces to the dentition and the basal bone. Typically these muscular forces are generated by altering the mandibular position sagitally and vertically, resulting in orthodontic and orthopedic changes. Functional appliances have been broadly divided into two categories removable and fixed functional appliances. Fixed functional appliances have been used in patients who are non compliant to removable appliances and in patients after the active growth phase has been completed. The purpose of this review was to overview the different fixed functional appliances available till date for the treatment of Class II malocclusions.