Cambios en el perfil de los tejidos blandos faciales en casos fronterizos, después del tratamiento ortodóncico sin extracciones

Abstract

A study was made to (a) describe and quantify the changes observed in the facial soft tissue profile of 15 malocclusive patients subjected to edgewise treatment without extractions in whom treatment planning involved reasonable doubt over whether or not to extract teeth to resolve the occusal and lip protrusion problems; and (b) evaluate the esthetic consequences of such changes. Data were obtained from lateral cephalograms before and after treatment. Following trealmenl, few significant changes were noted in the soft tissue measurements. In contrast, occlusion was improved (Angle Class I molar occlusion in all cases), and a significant 25% reduction in the ANB angle was achieved (from 4.8º to 3.6º on average). Finally, overjet and overbite were significantly reduced, and facial esthetics improved. Significant lip retrusion was only observed with respect to the Ricketts E line. The mandibular incisor was significantly advanced with respect to the A-Pogonion line (from 1.1 mm to 2.4 mm on average). No significant changes were noted in the position of the upper incisors with respect to the skeletal reference lines employed (A-Pogonion and Nasion-A).