Résumé
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.