Evaluating Changes in the Inter-occlusal Space During Orthodontic Retention Stage PDF Download

Author: Veronica M. Toro
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 47

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Book Description
Introduction: The purpose of the study was to measure the post-treatment changes in the inter-occlusal space one month and three months after comprehensive orthodontic treatment: settling. 3D images acquired during retention were used. The effects of the patients’ demographics and retention protocols on settling were analyzed. Methods: Consecutively finished orthodontic patients were invited to participate in the study. Intraoral scans were obtained at debond, 1-month and 3-months after debond. A 3D Software was used to evaluate the inter-occlusal changes between the upper and lower teeth in a range of distance of -0.6mm to 2mm. A heat map of the surface area was created. Two main categories and six subgroups of height distance were created. The dental arch was also divided into anterior and posterior segments. The changes in the Total Surface Area within Range, area for each category, anterior and posterior portions, the differences between occlusal coverage and no occlusal coverage retainers, age, and gender were compared at all time points. Results: 90 patients were enrolled in the study. The Total Surface Area within Range increased in the first month. The surface area of teeth in the -0.6mm to 0.25mm category stayed constant while the 0.25mm to 2mm range also increased. Similar changes were seen from 1 month to 3 months, but were not statistically significant. The same pattern was observed for the anterior and posterior segments. The increase in occlusal contacts was found in the group of patients wearing retainers without occlusal coverage. In patients wearing retainers with occlusal coverage, the changes were not statistically significant. Gender did not show a correlation with inter-occlusal changes after orthodontic treatment. Adolescents showed a statistically significant increase in Total Surface Area within Range and 0.25mm to 2mm category, while Adults did not. However, there is no statistically significant difference between them. Conclusions: During the first month after the removal of orthodontic appliances, patients show an increase in the total occlusal surface area. This increase is primarily from changes in the inter-occlusal space between teeth that have more than 0.25 mm distance between the upper and lower dentition. The contact surface area of teeth within the -0.6mm to 0.25mm range between the upper and lower teeth remains constant over the three-month period. Anterior and posterior teeth exhibit similar changes throughout the 3-month period. Retainers without occlusal coverage allow changes in the inter-occlusal contacts, while retainers with occlusal coverage do not. A bigger sample size is needed to confirm a relationship with age.