Evaluation of posttreatment changes in Class II Division 1 patients after nonextraction orthodontic treatment: cephalometric and model analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate changes in patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusions treated with cervical headgear and full fixed orthodontic appliances and without extractions.

METHODS: Lateral cephalograms and dental casts of 18 patients were obtained at the beginning and the end of treatment and at the postretention period. Pretreatment records were taken at 11.9 +/- 2.6 years, and the mean treatment time was 2.8 +/- 1.2 years. All patients were asked to use maxillary and mandibular Hawley retainers for 1 year. The average postretention interval was 5.3 years.

RESULTS: The assessment of cephalometric findings showed that maxillary growth was restricted; maxillary incisor inclination, overjet, and overbite were decreased; the mandibular incisors were proclined; and a slight mandibular posterior rotation occurred at the end of treatment. At the postretention period, the maxilla remained stable, the mandible moved anteriorly, and the overjet increased slightly (1.25 mm, P < .01). The dental cast changes indicated that both maxillary and mandibular irregularity index values decreased significantly during treatment but increased after 5 years. Mandibular intercanine width decreased 0.47 mm ( P < .01) during the postretention period.

CONCLUSIONS: The redirection of maxillary growth remained stable in patients with Class II malocclusions treated with cervical headgear and fixed orthodontic appliances and without extractions, but treatment-induced mandibular rotations tended to return to their original patterns. Various dental changes occurred during the postretention period.