ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the opening and protrusive mandibular movements between Class I and Class II malocclusions in healthy adolescents by clinical and axiographic evaluations. METHODS: Mechanical axiography was performed on non-orthodontically treated, temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-free adolescents (12 - 16 years) with Class I (n = 38, 16 boys, 22 girls) or Class II (n = 40, 19 boys, 21 girls) malocclusion. Opening and protrusive movements were measured clinically and axiographically. Intergroup comparisons were evaluated by t-tests. RESULTS: In opening movement, the maximum clinical opening capacity was significantly different (p < or = 0.05) between the groups. In protrusive movement, the Class II group had significantly greater maximum clinical protrusion (p < 0.001) and maximum axiographic protrusive length (p < 0.01) than the Class I group. No significant difference in the other opening and protrusive axiographic measurements was observed. CONCLUSIONS: TMD-free adolescents with Class II malocclusion have increased protrusive capacity compared with TMD-free adolescents with Class I malocclusion; however, the detected differences could be normal variations during adolescence.