Edition V16N06 | Year 2011 | Editorial Original Article | Pages 52 to 62
Objective: To perform a cephalometric evaluation of dentoalveolar and soft tissue changes in Brazilian youths with Class II, division 1 malocclusion, treated with a mandibular protraction appliance (MPA) combined with fixed corrective orthodontics. Methods: The sample consisted of 28 patients (16 females and 12 males) with a mean age of 13.06 years, treated for a mean period of 14.43 months. The changes were measured on 56 specific cephalometric analysis obtained from lateral cephalograms taken before and after treatment by two calibrated examiners in order to identify soft tissue and dentoalveolar changes using linear and angular cephalometric measures. The independent variables sex, age, facial pattern, MPA model, archwire, technique and treatment time were registered and analyzed using linear and angular cephalometric measures. Treatment responses were analyzed and compared by the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Mann-Whitney tests at a significance level of 5%. Results: The results showed dentoalveolar changes of great magnitude, which caused positive changes in soft tissue. It was also noted that the variables age, MPA model and technique influenced the treatment. Conclusions: MPA proved to be an effective alternative in the treatment of Class II, division 1 malocclusion, inducing dentoalveolar and soft tissue changes with satisfactory clinical results.