Evaluation of buccolingual inclinations of posterior teeth in vertical and normal growth pattern

Facial growth pattern is one of the important factors in orthodontic treatment planning. The aim of this study was to compare the inclination of the posterior teeth in subjects with a normal and vertical growth pattern. Fifty 16 to 20 year old individuals having no history of orthodontic treatment, dental extraction, spacing and crowding in posterior teeth were selected for this case – control study. These individuals were divided into two groups of vertical and normal growth patterns based on SN-MP and Jarabak Index. Study casts provided for these patients were trimmed from anterior to the second premolar and from posterior to the first molar. Lateral surfaces of casts were trimmed perpendicular to the occlusal surface tangential to the most prominent cusps of these 4 or at least 3 (two molars and one premolar) teeth. The angle between lateral surface of the cast and the occlusal surface of each tooth was considered as axial inclination. The results were statistically analyzed using Mann Whitney U and t tests. The mean age of the studied group was 18.3±1.6. The mean axial inclination of maxillary first permanent molar with normal growth pattern was 27.5±16.8 (right side) and 26.2±14.7 (left side). The amount of this variable with vertical growth pattern was 23.4±11.9 (right side) and 24.8±14.7 (left side). The mean axial inclination of mandibular first permanent molar with normal growth pattern was 27.24±15.2 (right side) and 27.44±14.8 (left side) and with vertical growth pattern was 23.8±13.9 (right side) and 23.5±14.3 (left side). Buccolingual inclination of the teeth has no effect on orthodontic treatment planning.