The use of functional appliances for class II malocclusions: a nation-wide cross-sectional survey of orthodontists in Australia

What is your age?

• 20-29 years old

• 30-39 years old

• 40-49 years old

• 50-59 years old

• 60 years and older

In which country did you obtain your orthodontic speciality qualification ?

• Australia

• Other: (please specify_____________________________)

From which institution did you obtain your orthodontic speciality qualification?

• University of Adelaide

• University of Melbourne

• University of Queensland

• University of Sydney

• University of Western Australia

• Other: (please specify____________________________)

How many years have you practiced as a specialist orthodontist?

• 0-9 years

• 10-19 years

• 20-29 yearsd. 30-39 yearse. More than 40 years

I n which state or territory do you primarily practice?

• Australian Capital Territory

• New South Wales

• Northern Territory

• Queensland

• South Australia

• Tasmaniag. Victoriah. Western Australia

At which orthodontic service do you spend most of your clinical time?

• Private clinic

• Government clinic

• Tertiary/university dental facility

In your clinical practice, which functional appliances do you commonly prescribe for correction of a Class II malocclusion ? (If applicable, select multiple answers)

• Twin Block

• Bionator

• Activator

• Headgear alone

• Headgear with a concurrent functional appliance

• Clear aligners with mandibular advancement features

• Herbst

• Forsus

• Mara

• Twin Force

• Other: (Please specify______________________________)

• I do not use functional appliances

If I do not use functional appliances WAS selected, please complete the question 2 ONLY of this question set then END the survey.

Click and drag to rank the importance of the following factors in your choice to NOT prescribe functional appliance therapy to treat a Class II malocclusion. (Top response (1)– most important; bottom response (5) – least important)

• Cost of fabrication/purchase

• Patient compliance

• Breakages and laboratory support

• Effectiveness

• Efficiency/treatment time

If I do not use functional appliances was NOT selected, please completed questions 3-5 of this question set.

Click and drag to rank the importance of the following factors in your choice of functional appliance (top response (1) – most important; last response (6) – least important)

• Cost of fabrication/purchase

• Patient compliance

• Breakages and laboratory support

• Efficiency/treatment length

• Patient comfort

• Clinical time required for instalment, adjustment and removal.

What is your PREFERRED choice of Class II treatment when employing functional appliances ?

• Two phase: Removable functional appliance followed by fixed appliance therapy

• Two phase: Fixed functional appliance followed by fixed appliance therapy

• One phase: Fixed appliance with a Class II corrector

Are Class II cases referred to you at the appropriate age for functional appliance treatment?

• Often

• SometimesSeldom

Do you offer First Phase treatment (early functional appliance treatment) in the mixed dentition for treatment of a Class II malocclusion?

• Yes

• No

If yes, please answer Q2 and Q3 ONLY of this question set

Estimate how many First Phase functional appliances you have prescribed in the last 12 months to treat Class II malocclusions in the mixed dentition?

• 0 – 6

• 6 – 12

• 12 – 24

• More than 24

How do you complete your First Phase functional appliance treatment in the mixed dentition when treating a Class II malocclusion?

• ONLY with fixed functional appliance therapy

• ONLY with removable functional appliance therapy

• MAJORITY with fixed functional appliance therapy

• MAJORITY with removable functional appliance therapy

If only with fixed functional appliance therapy, please end the survey

If no, please answer Q4 ONLY of this question set

Click and drag to rank the importance of the following factors in your choice to NOT prescribe First Phase functional appliance therapy in the mixed dentition for treatment of a Class II malocclusion. (Top response (1)– most important; bottom response (5) – least important)

• Cost of fabrication/purchase

• Patient compliance

• Breakages and laboratory support

• Effectiveness

• Efficiency/treatment time

What age range do you typically begin removable functional appliance treatment ?

• 5 years and younger (primary dentition)

• 6-9 years old (early mixed dentition)

• 10-12 years old (late mixed dentition)

• 13 years and older (permanent dentition)

What is your typical removable functional appliance wear regime?

• Full time including mealtimes

• Full time NOT including mealtimes

• Part time

How long is your active removable functional appliance phase?

• 0-3 months

• 4-6 months

• 6-9 months

• 9-12 months

• Greater than 12 months

Do you encourage use of a chart or diary to measure patient compliance with removable functional appliance therapy?

• Yes, routinely

• Yes, occasionally

• No

Following removable functional appliance therapy, do you have a period of retention when the appliance is worn less often?

• Yes

• No

If no, please end the survey

What is your routine length of post functional appliance retention?

• 0-3 months

• 4-6 months

• 7-9 months

• 10-12 months

• Greater than 12 months

Do you carry out any adjustment to the removable functional appliances during the retention period?

• Yes

• No