Relapse of incisor crowding: A visit to the prince of salina

The management of the retention period after comprehensive orthodontic treatment is of great importance, as a primary goal of clinician. Considerable controversy still surrounds the problem of stability after the retention period. Many studies analyze factors associated to the presence of crowding or incisor irregularity and find predictive features on its relapse. Most studies have reported little o no correlation between the treatment changes in the biological parameters - clinical, biometric (irregularity index, intermolar width, intercanine width, arch length, overjet, overbite), or cephalometric variables- that ocurred and the posttretament and postretention changes that may predict their future development. This article provides a bibliographical overview on the relapse of dental alignment in treated cases. In a brief historical introduction, the first studies on the long-term stability of orthodontic results are analysed. The article then goes on to assess studies that focus attention on anteroinferior alignment before finally studying relapse of upper crowding. It concludes by making some final comments in the light of the bibliography provided and the differents schools regarding retention needs and methods. Key words:Retention, stability, irregularity, dental alignment.     

Nickel-titanium mandibular bonded lingual 3-3 retainer: for permanent retention and solving relapse of mandibular anterior crowding.

An innovative technique that involves a nickel-titanium mandibular bonded lingual 3-3 retainer was used to treat relapse of mandibular anterior crowding. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate clinical procedures and to study the effects of a new mandibular bonded lingual 3-3 retainer on the mandibular dental arch. In 18 patients, changes in the irregularity index and in arch dimensions (intercanine width, arch length, and arch depth) were measured against the patients' mandibular dental casts, which were obtained at completion of the previous orthodontic treatment (T(0)). These measurements were taken at the beginning of retreatment (T(1)), and 2 (T(2)), 4 (T(3)), and 6 (T(4)) months after initiation of retreatment. During the period of relapse (T(0)-T(1)), the irregularity index increased from 1.3 to 3.5 mm and the mandibular arch dimensions decreased. Four months after a segment of.018-in nickel-titanium archwire was bonded lingually from canine to canine, the irregularity index decreased from 3.5 to 1.0 mm and the arch dimensions increased and recovered their original posttreatment dimensions. The nickel-titanium archwire was left in place for permanent retention after the period of retreatment. This simple technique effectively solved relapse of mandibular anterior crowding in 4 months. This mandibular bonded lingual 3-3 retainer could be used both actively, to re-treat mandibular anterior crowding without the use of lingual brackets, and passively, for maintenance as a bonded lingual retainer.     

20例错牙合正畸治疗和保持后的模型分析研究

目的：评估错He畸形经治疗和保持后牙弓的变化情况，为临床治疗同类错He提供依据。方法：选择拔除4颗第一双尖牙的患者20例，采用方丝弓技术治疗。对治疗前后和保持器停截1年后的模型进行测量。结果：治疗前后除上下牙弓尖牙宽度增加外，其余指标均不同程度减少，去除保持器1年后，上下尖牙宽度和前牙覆He，覆盖出现复发，而上下牙弓中，后段宽度和上下牙弓长度继续减少。结论：治疗后上颌尖牙宽度净增加量较下颌稳定，经治疗和保持后，上下牙弓宽度和长度并非一定会复发。     

The mandibular plane angle in activator treatment.

The long-term results of activator treatment were investigated in 15 subjects with a small and 13 subject with a large pretreatment mandibular plane angle. The results of the investigation revealed the following: 1. Activator treatment resulted in a general improvement in the sagittal and vertical incisor relationship in both large and small angle cases. 2. Overjet relapse was more frequent and overbite relapse less frequent in large angle cases than in small angle cases. 3. During the period before treatment follow-up examination the frequency of patients with open bite increased in the large angle group and decreased in the small angle group. 4. The mandibular intercanine arch width was smaller and the frequency of crowding in the mandibular incisor segment was higher in the large angle group than in the small angle group. 5. A large pretreatment mandibular plane angle, per se, was not a primary factor in treatment failure. However, an unfavourable mandibular growth in combination with an atypical tongue function seemed to be the main reason for the relapse found in the large angle subjects.     

Effect of serial extraction alone on crowding: Relationships between tooth width, arch length, and crowding

In this study, we examined the effect of serial extraction alone on crowding. We also investigated the relationships between tooth width, arch length, and irregularity index. Maxillary dental casts from 32 subjects who had undergone only serial extraction were analyzed at 3 stages: before deciduous canines extraction, after first premolars extraction, and at the end of the observation period. The mean of the irregularity index decreased significantly as serial extraction proceeded and further decreased during the observation period. In cases where the width of the incisor was more than 2 standard deviations above the means for the control subjects, there was a significant correlation between tooth width of the lateral incisors and irregularity index before extraction as well as a significant correlation between the summation of tooth widths of the central and lateral incisors and irregularity index at that time. There was a significant negative correlation between arch length discrepancy and irregularity index before extraction and also a significant correlation between arch length discrepancy and correction of the irregularity index from before deciduous canines extraction to after first premolars extraction. These results suggest that tooth width and arch length discrepancy might preferentially affect the degree of anterior crowding in cases of severe crowding. There was no aggravation of the average crowding level during the observation period in the present study. The present study quantitatively suggested that serial extraction was useful for the purpose of correcting crowding in most cases.     

影响正畸治疗后牙弓稳定性的相关因素探讨

目的　探讨影响正畸治疗后牙弓稳定性的相关因素。方法　对正畸治疗后 2 4～ 97个月 (平均 5 0 .0 5个月 ) 74例错牙合畸形患者治疗前后及保持后模型进行牙弓测量。结果　保持后 ,大部分测量项目男性大于女性 ,但减少百分率无显著差异 ;不同的矫治器类型 (除上下尖牙宽度P <0 .0 5外 )、错牙合类型 (除上牙弓长P <0 .0 1外 )和保持时间组间牙弓测量项目差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;保持后下 3- 3长度减少百分率非拔牙组 (13.4 4 % )和青少年组 (8.93% )分别大于拔牙组 (7.2 2 % )和成年组 (4 .10 % )。结论　保持停止后 ,尖牙间长度、宽度随着年龄的增大不断减少 ;下颌骨的向前生长和过度扩弓是导致下前牙拥挤复发的主要原因之一。     

Relapse in Angle Class II Division 1 Malocclusion treated by tandem mechanics without extraction of permanent teeth: A retrospective analysis.

Ideal orthodontic treatment should achieve long-term stability of the occlusion. The mandibular incisor segment has been described as the segment that is most likely to exhibit relapse after treatment and retention. Therefore, relapse of this is a challenge that clinicians need to address. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the amount of relapse that may occur in Angle Class II Division 1 patients, treated orthodontically with tandem mechanics. All cases in this study were treated without extraction of permanent teeth, and the patients were followed for at least 2 years after the end of the retention phase of treatment. Six predictors were investigated at pretreatment, posttreatment, and postretention periods. A synopsis of this study shows the correction of lower incisor crowding as measured by the irregularity index was stable over 5.2 years of postretention follow-up; but longer follow-up time revealed increased relapse of incisor irregularity. Intermolar width increased during treatment and remained stable in the follow-up period. Overjet and overbite corrections and changes in the lower incisor to mandibular plane angle were also stable in the follow-up period. In addition, the amounts of overjet correction and loss of expansion of intercanine distance after treatment were associated with increased irregularity index in the follow-up period. It appears the discrepancies between this and previously published works are sufficiently dramatic that the whole question of treatment philosophy and long-term stability may need to be reevaluated.     

欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法排齐和整平下颌拥挤牙列效果的临床研究

目的 评价下颌非拔牙病例中,澳丝弯制的欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法在传统直丝弓托槽上排齐和整平下颌拥挤牙列方面的临床效果。方法 选择58例正畸患者,年龄19~24岁,随机均分成2组,各29例,一组接受传统矫治方法,另一组采用欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法矫治。每种矫正方法又分为轻-中度拥挤（5 > Ⅱ > 2）和重度拥挤（Ⅱ > 5）两个亚组。下颌治疗结束时间以下牙弓完全排齐和整平为准。头颅侧位片评价下牙弓排齐和整平前后下切牙位置的变化;模型上测量下尖牙间距和下第一恒磨牙间距以反映牙弓宽度的变化。结果 2种排齐和整平的方法获得了相同程度的前牙区和后牙区扩弓量;就重度拥挤病例而言,欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法要明显快于传统方法（P=0.017）;结论 2种方法无论在切牙的唇向移动程度还是尖牙间距和磨牙间距的扩大情况等各方面几乎获得了同样的效果,对于严重拥挤的牙列,欧米加阻挡曲扩弓装置显示出更高的效率,是非常值得推荐的一种矫正方法。     

下颌前牙拥挤在保持期后的变化研究进展

正畸治疗后的稳定性是每个正畸医生必须关注的问题。下颌前牙拥挤在保持后的复发是不可避免的同时也是最常见的,这些复发可能与不恰当的治疗、误诊有关。笔者在回顾拔牙与不拔牙对下颌前牙拥挤复发的影响时发现,在拔牙和不拔牙患者中,下颌前牙在保持期后都出现了不同程度的拥挤,延长保持时间、扩弓治疗、嵴上纤维环切术、邻面去釉等方法能够增加下颌前牙的稳定性。     

Long-term stability of lip bumper therapy followed by fixed appliances

Lip bumper treatment has been shown to successfully increase arch width, procline the incisors, and distalize molars. However, few studies have been performed showing the long-term stability of lip bumper treatment. In this study, mandibular casts taken by a single practitioner from 51 patients treated with lip bumpers without rapid palatal expansion were analyzed at pretreatment, post-lip bumper treatment, posttreatment, and long-term out of treatment. Measurements of arch width, arch depth, arch length, and anterior crowding were made. During treatment, there was a mean decrease in irregularity of 3.73 mm, with a posttreatment increase of 0.76 mm, for a net decrease of 2.97 mm. Despite posttreatment decreases, significant gains in arch width were maintained for extended periods of time. The intercanine width had a net increase of 1.78 mm (19% relapse), first premolars 3.39 mm (26% relapse), second premolars 2.58 mm (34% relapse), and first molars 2.17 mm (20% relapse). Lip bumper treatment along with fixed appliances is an effective means to obtain long-term increases in arch width and decreases in the irregularity index.     

Stability and relapse of mandibular anterior alignment: University of Washington studies

For more than 40 years, research in the Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington (Seattle, WA) has focused on a growing collection of more than 800 sets of patient records to assess stability and relapse of orthodontic treatment. All patients had completed treatment a decade or more before the last set of data. Evaluation of treated premolar extraction patients, treated lower incisor extraction patients, treated non-extraction cases with generalized spacing, patients treated with arch enlargement strategies, and untreated normals showed similar physiologic changes: (1) Arch length decreases after orthodontic treatment. (2) Arch width measured across the mandibular canine teeth typically reduces posttreatment, whether or not the case was expanded during treatment. (3) Mandibular anterior crowding during the posttreatment phase is a continuing phenomenon well into the 20-to-40 years age bracket and likely beyond. (4) Third molar absence or presence, impacted or fully erupted, seems to have little effect on the occurrence or degree of relapse. (5) The degree of post-retention anterior crowding is both unpredictable and variable and no pretreatment variables either from clinical findings, casts, or cephalometric radiographs before or after treatment seem to be useful predictors.     

Mandibular incisor alignment and dental arch changes 1 year after extraction of deciduous canines

This study investigated the early effects on mandibular incisor irregularity and rotation together with dental arch dimensions of the extraction of four deciduous canines. Children, during early mixed dentition, were randomized into one extraction (n = 32) and one control (n = 41) group. Dental casts from baseline (T0) and 1 year follow-up (T1) were used to evaluate changes in the irregularity index and in mandibular incisor rotation, dental arch dimensions, overjet, and overbite. Median mandibular incisor irregularity decreased over time, significantly more in the extraction than the control group (1.2 versus 0.7 mm; P < 0.01), with wide ranges in both groups. Rotational changes greater than 10 degrees for lateral incisors were twice as common in the extraction group (42 versus 20 per cent; P < 0.01). Central incisors displayed only minor changes in both groups. The correlation between changes in irregularity index and changes in incisor rotation was weak in both groups (r(s) < 0.3 not significant). According to professional assessment of overall alignment, 84 per cent in the extraction group versus 34 per cent in the control group (P < 0.001) improved from T0 to T1. A significant decrease in maxillary and mandibular arch length and circumference from T0 to T1 was recorded in the extraction group (1.3, 1.1 mm and 2.4, 2.0 mm, respectively; P < 0.001), while arch dimensions were preserved in the control group. To conclude, 1 year after extraction of the deciduous canines, small improvements in mandibular incisor alignment were seen, together with reduced arch dimensions. Little's index underestimated malalignment related to tooth rotation.     

Nonextraction orthodontic therapy: posttreatment dental and skeletal stability

To assess the long-term stability of nonextraction orthodontic treatment, the dental cast and cephalometric records of 28 cases were evaluated. Thirty cephalometric and seven cast parameters were examined before treatment, posttreatment, and an average of almost 8 years postretention. Results showed overall long-term stability to be relatively good. Relapse patterns seen were similar in nature, but intermediate in extent, between untreated normals and four first premolar extraction cases. Significant decreases were seen in arch length and intercanine width during the postretention period despite minimal changes during treatment. Incisor irregularly increased slightly postretention; intermolar width, overjet, and overbite displayed considerable long-term stability. Mandibular incisor mesiodistal and faciolingual dimensions were not associated with either pretreatment or posttreatment incisor crowding. Class II malocclusions with large ANB values and shorter mandibular lengths showed increased incisor irregularity, shorter arch lengths, and deeper overbites at the postretention stage, suggesting that the amount and direction of facial growth may have been partially responsible for maturational changes seen during the postretention period.     

A Thousand Consecutive Treated Orthodontic Cases—A Survey

Abstract

An analysis of 1000 consecutive treated cases from a private orthodontic practice was made. Inter alia the results show: the male to female ratio was 4: 6; the mean age of first attendance was 10·7 years and the mean age at the start of active treatment was 11·6 years. 49 per cent of the cases were Angle Class I; 39 per cent Class II/1; 8 per cent Class II/2 and 4 per cent Class III. Over half the patients had an increased overbite. 21 per cent had an anterior crossbite and 11 per cent showed a posterior crossbite. Approximately 75 per cent of the cases showed crowding of the labial segments. There was crowding in 26 per cent of the upper buccal segments and in 49 per cent of the lower ones.

93 per cent of the patients received active treatment for the upper arch but only 4 per cent had appliances in the lower arch. A quarter of the cases were treated without upper extractions; in the lower arch the figure was 58 per cent. 94.1 per cent of the patients were treated with removable appliances requiring, on average, 1·5 appliances per case to complete treatment. 30 per cent of the cases received no retention. 54 per cent wore a retainer for less than 6 months.

88 per cent of the patients completed treatment and co-operation was satisfactory in 87 per cent. The mean treatment period for each patient was 13·1 months involving an average of 11·7 visits. The average active treatment time for each patients was 95 minutes. 74 per cent of the completed cases had a satisfactory result.

The discussion supports the case for relating the type of orthodontic treatment to the total dental need of the patient. This requires more knowledge of what is meant by “dental health”. A plea is made that orthodontists should not become rigid in their approach to treatment.     

Prevalence of malocclusions in the early mixed dentition and orthodontic treatment need

Early interceptive treatment for the elimination of factors inhibiting dental arch development and mandibular and maxillary growth is applied varyingly by orthodontists, possibly because there is little scientific evidence that such interventions are of actual benefit. The aim of this study was to determine specific factors for treatment need in the early mixed dentition period in order to obtain basic data to support early intervention. The study was part of a larger survey of 8768 children aged between 6 and 17 years. From this sample, 1975 children aged between 6 and 8 years were used to estimate the prevalence of malocclusions using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) during the early mixed dentition period. The results showed that deep overbite and overjet, both more than 3.5 mm, were the most frequent discrepancies, affecting 46.2 and 37.5 per cent of patients, respectively. An anterior open bite was registered in 17.7 per cent, crossbite in 8.2 per cent, and a reverse overjet in 3.2 per cent. A tooth width to arch length discrepancy was recorded in 12 per cent of teeth in the upper arch and in 14.3 per cent in the lower arch. The proportion of children estimated using the Dental Health Component of the IOTN to have a great or very great treatment need (grades 4 and 5) was 26.2 per cent. The higher values of treatment need during the mixed dentition period may account for temporary changes in the dentition and for the discrepancy in overjet and overbite. These discrepancies will be compensated in part during mandibular growth and development of the dental arch. Nevertheless, the findings indicate the early development of progressive malocclusion symptoms which are evidenced in the IOTN and concur with the acronym 'MOCDO' hierarchy (missing, overjet, crossbite, displacement, overbite). This early formation of progressive symptoms inhibiting or disturbing mandibular or maxillary growth or the development of the normal dental arch, i.e. crossbite, reverse overjet and increased overjet with myofunctional disorders, should be treated at an early stage.     

正畸治疗后稳定性探讨

目的：探讨影响正畸治疗后稳定性的相关因素。方法：采用PAR（peer assessment rating)指数对74例错He畸形患者正畸治疗后2－8年（平均50．5个月）的治疗前后及保持后模型进行评估分析。结果：（1）保持后，加权总分值的复发率为13．01％，牙齿排列、覆盖、覆He和后牙段横向He关系复发率分别为6．38％、15．56％、28．36％和22．41％。（2）保持后明显改善者从治疗后77．03％减至64．86％。PAR分值增加53例，分值不变6例，分值减少15例。（3）Begg矫治器保持后加权总值大于方丝弓矫治器（P＜0．05）。（4）安氏Ⅱ类错He保持后牙排列和总分值大于I类错He（P＜0．05）。（5）不对称拔牙组保持后加权总分值大于其他组（P＜0．01）。结论：（1）保持停止后，牙齿有回复到原来位置的倾向。牙齿排列、覆盖、 覆He和后牙段横向He关系复发较明显。（2）正畸治疗后的稳定性与矫治器、错He及拔牙类型有关。     

Stability and relapse of dental arch alignment

For more than 35 years, research in the Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington has focused on a growing collection of over 600 sets of patient records to assess stability and failure of orthodontic treatment. All had completed treatment a decade or more prior to the last set of data. Evaluation of treated premolar extraction cases, treated non-extraction cases with generalized spacing, cases treated by arch enlargement strategies, and untreated normal occlusions demonstrate similar physiological changes. 1. Arch length reduces following orthodontic treatment, but also does so in untreated normal occlusions. 2. Arch width measured across the mandibular canine teeth typically reduces post-treatment whether the case was expanded during treatment or not. 3. Mandibular anterior crowding during the post-treatment phase is a continuing phenomenon well into the 20-40 age bracket and likely beyond. 4. Third molar absence or presence, impacted or fully erupted, seems to have little effect on the occurrence or degree of relapse. 5. The degree of post-retention anterior crowding is both unpredictable and variable and no pretreatment variables either from clinical findings, casts, or cephalometric radiographs before or after treatment seem to be useful predictors.     

The relationship between the curve of spee,relapse, and the Alexander discipline

Exaggerated curves of Spee are frequently observed in dental malocclusionsthat present with deep vertical overbites. During orthodontic treatment such excessive curves of Spee are usually leveled and, in most instances, this leveling will result in a reduction of the anterior overbite. The Alexander Discipline provides a good example of modern straight-wire orthodontic techniques that purport an ability to treat abnormal variations in the depth of the occlusal plane. The records of 31 randomly selected patients treated by nonextraction with the Alexander Discipline were studied. The results show that the Alexander Discipline levels the curve of Spee in Class II, Division I deep-bite cases and that when relapse occurs, the curve of Spee returns to a lesser extent than was present before orthodontic treatment. With the Alexander Discipline, a pretreatment curve of Spee that is not completely level posttreatment has a slightly higher incidence and magnitude of relapse than a pretreatment curve of Spee that is completely level posttreatment. This study indicated that, based on the pretreatment curve of Spee, there is no ability to predict relapse in mandibular intercanine width, overbite, overjet, mandibular incisor irregularity, and arch length in Class II, Division I deep-bite cases treated with the Alexander Discipline.     

A long-term study of the relationship of third molars to changes in the mandibular dental arch

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of third molars to changes in the mandibular dental arch. The sample for this study consisted of four groups and subgroups. The groups consisted of premolar extraction treated, nonextraction treated with initial generalized spacing, nonextraction treated, and serial extraction untreated subjects. The subgroups were divided into persons who had mandibular third molars that were either impacted, erupted into function, congenitally absent, or extracted at least 10 years before postretention records. The mean postretention time interval was 13 years, with a range of 10 to 28 years. The mean postretention age was 28 years 6 months, with a range of 18 years 6 months to 39 years 4 months. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to compare the changes over time (before treatment, at end of active treatment, and after retention) of groups and third molar subgroups. With time, mandibular incisor irregularity increased while arch length and intercanine width decreased. The eruption patterns of mandibular incisors and first molars were similarly dispersed in all groups studied. The findings between the subgroups in which mandibular third molars were impacted, erupted into function, congenitally absent, or extracted 10 years before postretention records revealed no significant differences between any of the subgroups for the parameters studied. No significant differences in mandibular growth were found between the third molar subgroups; this suggests that persons with third molars erupted into satisfactory function do not have a significantly different mandibular growth pattern than those whose third molars are impacted or congenitally missing. In the majority of cases some degree of mandibular incisor crowding took place after retention, but this change was not significantly different between third molar subgroups. This finding suggests that the recommendation for mandibular third molar removal with the objective of alleviating or preventing mandibular incisor irregularity may not be justified.     

Damon技术非拔牙矫治牙列拥挤患者的牙弓形态变化

目的探讨采用Damon技术对牙列拥挤患者进行非拔牙矫治的牙弓形态变化。方法 15例中度牙列拥挤患者,使用DamonⅢ矫治器进行非拔牙矫治。对治疗前后的记存模型进行测量分析,探讨牙弓形态的变化特点。结果矫治后的牙弓长度和宽度均有显著增加,具体的变化特点与牙列拥挤的程度和部位有关。牙弓宽度增加主要发生在上颌第一前磨牙和下颌第二前磨牙区。结论采用Damon技术非拔牙矫治牙列拥挤患者,牙弓形态改变主要是前磨牙区宽度及牙弓长度增加。