ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of relapse in orthodontic treatment of skeletal Class III malocclusion in growing patients. A total of 55 patients were studied and all subjects were divided into two groups according to their stability in the post-treatment stage. Of the sample, 33 patients were included in the stable group and the remaining 22 were assigned to the relapse group. Cephalometric data of the pre-treatment stage was taken and compared between the stable and relapse group. The following results were obtained through t-test: 1. This study presented statistical evidence to show that the major skeletal determinant of prognosis in Class III orthodontic treatment was not anteroposterior discrepancy but vertical discrepancy, especially within the AB-maxillo-mandibular triangle. Vertical angular measurements that showed statistically significant differences were AB-MP and ODI(P<0.01) and the vertical ratio measurements were MP-P/AL and PP-P/AL(P<0.05). 2. Relapse tendency increased with the steep occlusal plane, especially the steep lower occlusal plane. As to occlusal plane, there were statistically significant differences in OP(L)-PP, OP-PP, AB-OP(L) and Wits appraisal(P<0.05). This study claimed that anteroposterior discrepancy was not necessarily the proper criteria to predict relapse. Vertical discrepancy had a significant effect on post-treatment stability.