Effects of Three Different Orthodontic Treatment Methods on the Stability of Mandibular Incisor Alignment

Objective: To compare the effects of extraction, non-extraction and air-rotor stripping treatments on mandibular dental arch dimensions, lower incisor positions and evaluate their effects on the stability of the treatment. Study design: The sample consisted of 44 patients with Class I malocclusion and moderate crowding including 15 patients treated with extraction, 13 with air-rotor stripping (ARS), and 16 with nonextraction treatment. The records were taken at pretreatment (T0), end of active orthodontic treatment (T1), minimum 3 years post-treatment (T2). The model and cephalometric measurements were evaluated. For statistical analyses ANOVA and Welch test was applied. Results: At post-retention period Little's irregularity indices were increased to 1.96 mm, 2.38 mm and 3.59 mm for extraction, ARS and non-extraction groups respectively (p<0.05). At T1-T2, intercanine widths were decreased significantly at all groups (p< 0.05). The arch length and arch depth decreased significantly at extraction group (p< 0.05) from T0 to T1 and remained the same at T2 (p> 0.05). The lower incisors were retroclined with treatment and slightly proclined at post-retention period in extraction group. In ARS and non-extraction group, lower incisors proclined with treatment and remained the same at post-retention. Conclusion: At all groups the irregularity indices relapsed but did not return to pretreatment values. Although significant increase at intercanine width was only observed in non-extraction treatment, at post-retention phase, intercanine widths were significantly decreased at all groups. The changes at lower incisor inclinations relapsed slightly in extraction group but remained the same in the other groups.