Post-treatment stability of the occlusal plane according to different vertical facial patterns

Park, Jung Eun; Cha, Kyung Suk; Lee, Jin Woo; Chung, Dong Hwa

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to find changes in the occlusal plane related to different vertical facial patterns and suggest treatment goals and conduct possible treatment mechanisms.
METHODS
60 adult patients (28 males, 32 females) who had been diagnosed as Class I skeletal malocclusion and treated without extraction were selected. Patients were divided into three groups; short face type (group 1), average face type (group 2) and long face type (group 3), using the data on normal occlusion of Korean adults.
RESULTS
The results were achieved by analyzing cephalometric tracings of each group at pre-treatment, end-treatment and post-treatment (about 1 year recall check). The inclination of the occlusion plane tends to gradually increase as the face becomes longer. In group 1, COP-X, FOP-X, L6/L1, MP-L6 were significantly decreased, and L1-FOP was significantly increased during the retention period (T3-T2). Group 2 showed no significant change. In group 3, FOP-X was significantly increased during the retention period (T3-T2). During the retention period, FOP-X showed significant change among each group, especially between group 1 and group 3.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that changes of occlusal plane inclination according to facial vertical pattern need to be considered during the retention period for intrusion, extrusion, and incisor overbite.