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In this post we will delve into the research on the stability of orthodontic treatment when treating crowded cases without extractions.
Article reference in AJODO format:
1 Artun J, Krogstad O, Little RM. Stability of mandibular incisors following excessive proclination: a study in adults with surgically treated mandibular prognathism. The Angle orthodontist. 1990;60(2):99-106.
Research Type
Case control study
Materials & Methods
Patients with surgically treated mandibular prognathism were selected. In 29 patients the mandibular incisors were proclined more than 10 degrees during the presurgical orthodontic phase. The remaining 33 patients had only minimal change in incisor inclination. A long-term follow-up examination was performed 10.0 (SO 2.3) and 11.1 (SO 3.1) years postoperatively in 26 and 24 patients, respectively. Study casts were measured before and after treatment, three years after surgery, and long-term. Cephalograms were evaluated before and after treatment, immediately before and after surgery, and three years after surgery
Results (The most significant results in graph, picture, or table format)
Prior to therapy the patients treated with presurgical proclination had less dental arch length and more retroclined and crowded mandibular incisors than the patients in the other group. No differences in parameters were observed at later intervals. Dental arch length and intercanine width decreased and incisor irregularity increased in both groups during the follow-up periods. No intergroup differences in changes were observed.
Critical Interpretation of the result
Incisors are not stable after orthodontic treatment. Both proclined incisors and non-proclined incisors showed the same increase in incisor irregularity. Thus proclined incisors are just as stable as non-proclined incisors.
Refuting Evidence
Topic: Do incisors proclined in orthodontic treatment stay stable after the treatment?
Article reference in AJODO format:
Artun J, Krogstad O, Little RM. Stability of mandibular incisors following excessive proclination: a study in adults with surgically treated mandibular prognathism. The Angle orthodontist. 1990;60(2):99-106.
Research Type
Case Control Study
Materials & Methods
Patients with surgically treated mandibular prognathism were selected. In 29 patients the mandibular incisors were proclined more than 10 degrees during the presurgical orthodontic phase. The remaining 33 patients had only minimal change in incisor inclination. A long-term follow-up examination was performed 10.0 (SO 2.3) and 11.1 (SO 3.1) years postoperatively in 26 and 24 patients, respectively. Study casts were measured before and after treatment, three years after surgery, and long-term. Cephalograms were evaluated before and after treatment, immediately before and after surgery, and three years after surgery
Results (The most significant results in graph, picture, or table format)
Prior to therapy the patients treated with presurgical proclination had less dental arch length and more retroclined and crowded mandibular incisors than the patients in the other group. No differences in parameters were observed at later intervals. Dental arch length and intercanine width decreased and incisor irregularity increased in both groups during the follow-up periods. No intergroup differences in changes were observed.
Proclined incisors are not stable after orthodontic treatment without long term/permanent retention. Then again, non proclined incisors are not stable without the same retainer protocol.
Critical Interpretation of the result
Development of secondary crowding is apparently inevitable following orthodontic treatment.
Conclusion
Topic:
“Development of secondary crowding is apparently inevitable following orthodontic treatment…Permanent retention may be the only way to maintain incisor alignment.”
