Effect of Fixed Orthodontic Therapy On The Condylar Position In Patients With Angle’s Class I Malocclusions - A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Angle's class I malocclusions tend to consist of unstable dental relationships such as crowding, mal-positioned teeth, spacing, open bites, deep bites, and anterior and posterior crossbites. Correction of such malocclusions using fixed orthodontic therapy establishes a more stable occlusion and may result in a deflection in the position of the mandibular condyle. There has been limited research evaluating the effect fixed orthodontic therapy has on the position of the mandibular condyle. Aims and Objectives: To investigate the effect of fixed orthodontic therapy on the position of the mandibular condyle, in patients with Angle's class I malocclusion. Materials and Methods: Pre- and post-treatment digital lateral cephalometric images of 60 patients (35 female and 25 male) between the ages of 18-30, who had been treated for Angle's Class I malocclusion were selected for the study. The perpendicular distance of the condylion from the horizontal and vertical axes were measured in both the pre-and post-treatment lateral cephalogram of each patient. The change of position was calculated by comparing the pre- and post-treatment measurements in each axis. Results: There was a statistically significant change in the position of the condyle in the horizontal axis, with the condyles positioned 0.297mm posteriorly post-treatment. The vertical change was insignificant. There were no statistically significant differences in the change in condylar position between males and females and among different subtypes of Angle's class I malocclusion. Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic therapy in patients with Angle's Class I malocclusion resulted in a significant posterior shift in the condylar position post-treatment. This change is important as it can help the orthodontist predict the final post-treatment position of the condyle during orthodontic treatment planning.