[Soft-tissue profile changes produced by treatment of class II- malocclusion using skeletal anchorage miniplates "a prospective comparative study"]

ABSTRACT

Orthodontic treatment is considered successful only if optimal esthetic and function are achieved.The objective of this study was to compare facial soft tissue profile changes produced by a new technique [elastic forces based on skeletal anchorage mini-plates] with changes produced by conventional class-II elastic forces. The study sample consisted of 30 patients with skeletal class-II malocclusion caused by retro-gnathic mandible with a mean age [11.5 +/- 0.5 years]. They were randomly divided into 2 equal groups the first group included 15 patients [6 males, 9 females] treated by elastic forces based on skeletal anchorage mini-plates. The second group included 15 patients [7 males, 8 females] treated by conventional elastic forces. Lateral cephalographs were taken immediately before and after skeletal treatment. Nine linear and angular measurements related to the facial profile were determined in each cephalograph pairs. Dependent and independent t-tests were performed to evaluate the difference within each group and between the two groups respectively P >/= 0.05. Both techniques were effective in producing changes in facial soft tissue profile. However, those changes produced by elastic forces based on skeletal anchorage mini-plates [G'-Sn'- Pog', G'- Sn', Pog'- G', distance of Li from Pog'-Sn', Stms -Stmi and distance of Ls from Pog'-Sn'] were significantly better compared to that produced by the conventional elastic forces. Both techniques induce changes in facial soft tissue profile. The elastic forces based on skeletal anchorage mini-plates induce desirable facial profile changes in comparison with some undesirable changes induced by the conventional class-II elastic forces