Cephalometric evaluation of anteroposterior and vertical changes in skeletal Class II patients treated with cervical or combined traction

Márlio Vinícius de OLIVEIRA, Luiz Antônio Alves BERNARDES

Aim: To evaluate the antero-posterior and vertical changes in patients with skeletal Class II malocclusions (ANB > 5º) by means of the cephalometry. The patients had been treated with either cervical traction device (Group 1) or combined traction device (Group 2) both in association with a Edgewise-type device. Methods: The sample consisted of 60 lateral cephalometric radiographs of 30 Caucasian individuals, 13 males and 17 females, obtained during both pre-treatment and post-treatment phases. The 15 patients of Group 1 had mean ages of 10 years and 7 months in the pre-treatment and 13 years and 9 months in the post-treatment. The other 15 patients of Group 2 had mean ages of 11 years and 5 months in the pre-treatment and 14 years and 9 months in the post-treatment. The cephalometric measures obtained in the beginning as well as in the end of the treatment were analysed and compared by using the Student’s t test. Results and Conclusions: No significant changes regarding the facial growth pattern during the treatment in both groups. In Group 2, whose patients had a tendency of vertical growth (GoGn-SN> 36°), the extraoral combined traction device was not capable of reducing the mandibular plane angle despite of causing no extrusive effect on the upper molars. The anterior movement of the maxilla was restricted, whereas the vertical movement was stable in both groups studied. Although growth and anterior movement of the mandible were observed, the mandibular inclination was unchanged. The maxillary-mandibular relationship was shown to be significantly improved in both groups, with a perceptible reduction of the ANB measure.

Keywords: Skeletal Class II. Cervical and combined head gear appliance. Orthodontic appliance.

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