Cephalometric Evaluation of Dental and Skeletal Changes in the Vertical Dimension During the First Stage of Treatment using Preadjusted Brackets and the MBT Technique

Statement of Problem: Some vertical changes might be observed during the first stage of orthodontic treatment, aligning and leveling. The aim of this study was to evaluate dental and/or skeletal vertical changes occurring in the first stage of preadjusted orthodontic treatment. Fourteen patients with an average age of 14.1 years were selected for this study. Preadjusted appliances were used and a lateral cephalogram was taken, subsequently. All patients were treated with four first premolar extractions. After 8 weeks of aligning and leveling, a second cephalogram was obtained. No statistically significant changes including extrusion of all teeth except maxillary incisors were observed during this phase. Skeletal vertical changes also showed a slight non-significant decrease. The results of this study showed minimal vertical changes during the first stage of fixed orthodontic treatment with preadjusted appliances; therefore use of such appliances in patients with a tendency towards increased vertical dimensions could be justified.