Frankel functional regulator

The functional regulator is designed to alter the muscular function of the oral vestibule as the two buccal shields and lip pads keep development-inhibiting influences of the cheek, lip, and chin muscles away from the jaw and the shaping force of the tongue is fully exploited.The function regulator is indicated for defects of alveolar development such as mandibular retrognathia, deep bite, and prognathism.

The functional regulator is a reduced vestibular plate by which the acrylic part lies in the vestibule. Acrylic buccal shields vestibularly cover those parts of the dentition and alveolar ridge that are to be redeveloped.

Two wire brackets run vestibularly from the buccal shields, one as a labial bow in the maxilla and the other with two sublabial pads in the lower part of the vestibular fornix. The labial bow and sublabial pads push the mucosa from the alveolar bone and stimulate sagittal redevelopment of the apical bony base. To achieve this, the pads lie deep in the vestibular fornix at a distance from the alveolar ridge.

A palatal loop is bent in the maxilla as well as a guide loop for correcting the maxillary anterior teeth. In addition, clasplike wire loops can be used for single-tooth displacement. In the mandible, a guide loop also runs behind the anterior teeth.

Three types of functional regulator have been designed:

• Type 1 comprises lateral shields, from which the maxillary labial bow and the mandibular wire bracket for the pads originate. In addition, there are two canine loops, one palatal bar, and a lingual bow with U-loops. Protrusive positions of the anterior teeth can be eliminated and dental arch expansion carried out.
• Type 2 is used for correcting a disto-occlusion. The wire loops for the maxillary anterior teeth are intended to achieve retrusion. Additional wire loops for single-tooth movements can be fitted.
• Type 3 is used as a prognathism activator; lip pads are fitted in the maxilla, and the labial bow passes along the mandibular anterior teeth. A palatal bow in the maxilla is supplemented by a tight protrusion bar for stretching the maxillary anterior region.