Cephalometric Evaluation of Facial Vertical Changes Following Fixed Orthodontic Treatment with Extraction of Four First Premolars in Patients with Class I Malocclusion

Document Type : مقاله‌های پژوهشی

Authors

1 MSc, Advanced Materials Research Center, Department of Materials Engineering, Islamic Azad University of Isfahan (Najafabad), Isfahan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran. 3. Dentist, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Dentist, Isfahan, Iran.

4 Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Extraction of premolars as a part of orthodontic treatment is one of the controversial topics in current dentistry. According to some theories, extraction of first premolars results in a decrease in facial height. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extraction of four first premolars on facial height in patients with class I malocclusion undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.
Materials & Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 20 patients (17 females and 3 males) with a mean age of 26.6 years. As a part of orthodontic treatment, the four first premolars had been extracted. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of the patients were digitized. Image analyses were conducted by View Box 3.1.1. Paired t-test was used to compare each variable before and after treatment (α = 0.05). 
Results: Mean changes in cephalometric angles in the vertical and sagittal dimensions were not significant, and linear cephalometric variables did not exhibit any significant changes before and after treatment, except for FMA angle which increased significantly (p value < 0.05). 
Conclusion: In the treatment of patients with class I malocclusion in association with extraction of four first premolars, there were no changes in the facial height. Therefore, orthodontic treatment with extraction of the four first premolars does not result in unfavorable skeletal changes.
Key words: Angle Class I malocclusion, Face, Tooth extraction.