INTERMOLAR AND INTERCANINE WIDTH CHANGES FOLLOWING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT WITH MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR FIRST PREMOLAR EXTRACTIONS IN DIFFERENT FACIAL PATTERNS

Abstract

Arch forms of maxillary and mandibular arches vary in different facial types. The purpose of this study is to compare the arch width changes in patients treated with fixed orthodontic mechanics with maxillary and mandibular first premolar extractions in different facial types. This retrospective study was conducted on pre‑and post‑treatment study models of 15 subjects who had undergone orthodontic treatment. They were equally divided into Vertical, Horizontal and Average facial patterns. Intercanine and Intermolar distances were measured using a Digital Vernier calliper. After orthodontic treatment, the Intercanine widths of both upper and lower arch increased and the maximum increase is seen in the Horizontal group in the maxillary arch (1.88mm) and in the Average group in the mandibular arch (1.5mm).TheIntermolar widths in maxilla narrowed more in Vertical facial pattern (-1.7mm) followed by average (-1.44mm) and least in horizontal facial types (-0.25mm). Even in the mandibular arch, Vertical facial pattern shows the maximum narrowing of the intermolar widths (-2.16mm). However the association of facial patterns on arch width changes was not statistically significant proving that the arch width changes post orthodontic treatment are not dependent on the facial pattern of a person.