Original Research

Year : 2026 | Volume : 17 | Issue : 1 | Page : 83-96

WALA Ridge changes in Orthodontic Patients treated with Conventional Fixed Appliances and Damon Self-Ligating Appliances

Sohel Rana 1, Bhadrinath Srinivasan 2, Sridevi Padmanabhan 3

1-Postgraduate Resident, 2-Associate Professor, 3-Professor, Associate Dean Research, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India.

Address for Correspondence:

Dr. Sridevi Padmanabhan

Professor, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Associate Dean Research,

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

Chennai, India

Email: sridevipadmanabhan@sriramachandra.edu.in

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the changes in the WALA ridge and the distance from the FA point to the WALA ridge in the mandibular arch of patients treated with a conventional fixed appliance and a Damon self-ligating appliance.

Materials and Methods: The investigation included pre- and post-treatment mandibular study models of 63 subjects, with 33 subjects in Group I (MBT prescription) and 30 subjects in  Group 2 (Damon Self-Ligating appliance). Reference planes were generated on the maxillary study model and the WALA ridge, and FA points were marked on the mandibular models. Scanning of models was performed using a 3-dimensional laser scanner. The changes in WALA ridge position and the distances between the FA point and the WALA ridge were assessed using a dental cast analysis software.

Results: There was a significantly greater increase in WALA ridge dimensions in Group 2 (P<0.001) relative to Group 1. Intergroup comparison of changes in FA-WALA distances revealed buccal movement of all teeth in Group 1, except for the central incisor and first premolar. In contrast, buccal movement was noted only in the first molar region in Group 2. However, this variation among the groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusions: There was a significant increase in WALA ridge dimensions with the Damon self-ligating appliance relative to the conventional fixed appliance, demonstrating that the WALA ridge is not immutable.
Keywords: WALA ridge; Self-ligating appliance; Damon self-ligating appliance.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND FUNDING

Nil

How to cite this article: Sohel Rana, Bhadrinath Srinivasan, Sridevi Padmanabhan. WALA Ridge changes in Orthodontic Patients treated with Conventional Fixed Appliances and Damon Self-Ligating Appliances.

Int J Orthod Rehabil 2026; 17 (1): 83-96.

Doi: 10.56501/Intjorthodrehabil.171.ijor0078

Review Article

Year : 2025 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 1 | Page : 24-37

Prognostic Factors for Successful Functional Appliance Therapy in Skeletal Class II Malocclusion- A Systematic Review

Rajkumaran Rajamanickam1, Bhadrinath Srinivasan2, Keerthi Venkatesan3 , Vignesh Kailasam4

1-Post Graduate Resident, 2-Associate Professor, 3-Senior Lecturer, 4-Professor and Head, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, Porur, Chennai-600116, India.

Address for Correspondence:

Dr Bhadrinath Srinivasan

Associate professor,

Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics,

Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, Porur, Chennai-600116.

E-mail – bhadrinath.s@sriramachandra.edu.in

Phone - +91 9841879224

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate clinical or cephalometric parameters that contribute to favourable outcomes with functional appliance therapy in skeletal class II malocclusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six electronic databases were searched PubMed, Ovid, Lilacs, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 25thFebruary 2025. All study designs which evaluated factors associated with favourable and unfavourable outcome with functional appliance therapy for the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusion were included. The electronic search, initial screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment was independently performed by the two reviewers. The collected data were analysed from the finally selected articles based on type of study, sample size, type of functional appliance used, and patient characteristics or factors studied which could be considered as positive predictive factors for functional appliance.

RESULTS: Seven retrospective studies and one prospective study were included. Prognostic factors like  the Co-Go-Me angle, chin position, growth pattern and other occlusal factors such as overbite, overjet were evaluated in the selected studies. Four studies were rated very good with 9 points and four other studies were rated as satisfactory with 7 points using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Due to heterogeneity of the factors studied, a meta–analysis could not be conducted in this systematic review.

CONCLUSION: Two included studies reported Co- Go-Me angle as the single most important predictive factor for successful outcome. Cephalometric factors pointing to horizontal growth pattern or hypo divergence, chin position and occlusal variables like increased overbite and overjet were identified as positive predictive factors. However future studies with definitive comparison groups can strengthen the current evidence.

REGISTRATION: PROSPERO(CRD42022312039).

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE

All the authors disclose they do not have any financial or non-financial interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication.

 All the authors declare that the manuscript has been read and approved by all  of them , that the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this document have been met, and that each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work.

All the authors declare that they do not have any competing interests

FUNDING

There was no external funding.

How to cite this article: Rajkumaran Rajamanickam, Bhadrinath Srinivasan, Keerthi Venkatesan , Vignesh Kailasam. Prognostic Factors for Successful Functional Appliance Therapy in Skeletal Class II Malocclusion- A Systematic Review. Int J Orthod Rehabil 2025; 16 (1) 24-37.