Evaluation of the effectiveness of acrylic appliances and clear aligners for the treatment of anterior crossbite in children and their impact on quality of life

Objective: The aim was to compare the efficacy of clear aligners and labiolingual spring Hawley (LH) in the treatment of dental anterior crossbite (AC) in the mixed dentition. Method: Thirty patients aged between 7-12 years who presented with dental AC in at least one permanent incisor in the sagittal plane were included in the study. The study groups each consisted of 15 patients treated with either clear aligners (Group A) or the LH (Group B). The main evaluation criteria included duration of treatment, cephalometric measurements, analogue/digital model analyses and oral health-related quality of life. The agreement between digital and analogue model analyses was evaluated by Bland-Altman analysis. Results: AC was successfully corrected in all patients. The mean treatment duration for Group B (48.4±27) was significantly shorter than that for Group A (96.3±22.7) (P=0.00). In Group A, the U1-NA° increased by 5.9° and the overjet by 4 mm after treatment (p=0.00). Similarly, in Group B, the U1-NA° increased by 7.7° and the overjet by 4.2 mm (p=0.00). When the changes in cephalometric measurements before and after treatment were compared between the groups, no significant differences were observed (p>0.05). In the analogue model analyses of Group A, both incisal and gingival arch depths showed significant increases (2.6 mm and 1.17 mm, respectively, p=0.00). No significant changes were observed in arch parameters for GroupB and COHIP-SF19 scores between the groups (p>0.05). According to the Bland-Altman analysis, the digital and analogue analysis methods were compatible. Conclusion: Dental AC observed during the mixed dentition period was successfully treated in both groups within a short period. However, the treatment duration was significantly shorter with the LH appliance than with clear aligners. The treatment methods were found to have similar effects on children's quality of life.