Evaluation of the Effects of Hard Tissue Changes on Soft Tissue Harmony in Non-Extraction Camouflage Treatments for Angle Class III Malocclusion

Authors : Ece Başal, Gamze Yıldırım, Elvan Onem Ozbilen, Begüm Turan

Pages : 122-132

Doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1455530

View : 24 | Download : 36

Publication Date : 2025-01-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to observe the harmony between hard and soft tissue alterations on lateral cephalograms of patients with Class III malocclusion following orthodontic treatment. Methods: Fifteen patients (7 male, 8 female; mean age: 21.4±0.49 years) who underwent received Class III non-extraction camouflage treatment with intermaxillary elastics were included in the study. Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms were evaluated for hard and soft tissue changes using NemoStudio NX-Pro software. Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation analyses, and linear regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Significant increases in Wits, UI-SN, overjet, and overbite, and significant decreases in ACB-Corpus, SN-GoMe, SN-OP, and UI-OP were observed after treatment (p<0.05). Strong correlations were identified, including negative correlations between SN-GoMe values and UL Thickness, Pog’-TVL, and LLA-TVL, positive correlations between UI-SN values and UL-E Line and H angle, and negative correlations between UI-OP values and H and overbite and between UL-E Line and H angle. The linear regression analysis showed that a one-unit increase in SN-GoMe corresponded to a 0.523-unit decrease in UL Thickness, and a one-unit increase in UI-SN corresponded to a 0.177-unit increase in LL-E Line. Moreover, a one-unit increase in overbite corresponded to a 0.835-unit decrease in H angle and a 0.749-unit increase in G-Sn-Pog’. Conclusion: Since changes in SN-GoMe angle, UI-SN angle, and overbite have a greater impact on soft tissues compared to other hard tissue alterations, they can provide clinicians with crucial information when planning Class III camouflage treatments.
Keywords : Orthodontics, Cephalometry, Angle Class III Malocclusion