Changes in occlusal force and occlusal contact area after orthodontic treatment

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate functional changes of occlusion after orthodontic treatment by measuring the occlusal force (OcFr) and occlusal contact area (OcAr), and to compare OcFr and OcAr change according to premolar extractions. Methods: Data were obtained from 74 patients who had finished orthodontic treatment using fixed appliance aged between 18 and 40 years. Subjects were divided into groups who had four premolars extractions or non-extraction (Male extraction-16, Male nonextraction-18, Female extraction-19, Female nonextraction-21). All subjects were asked to bite pressure-sensitive sheets into maximum intercuspation with maximum bite force, and OcFr and OcAr were evaluated by measuring the sheet with a CCD camera. Records were taken right after debonding, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after debonding. Results: OcFr and OcAr increased gradually in all groups during the 1 year retention period (p < 0.05). Male groups showed higher OcFr and OcAr than female groups throughout the retention periods (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences of OcFr and OcAr between extraction and non-extraction groups in both males and females (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Occlusion was improved functionally throughout the 1 year retention, and premolar extraction did not induce a decline in the functional aspect of occlusion. (Korean J Orthod 2010;40(3):176-183)