A Longitudinal Cephalometric Study of Several Factors Involved in Overbite Correction and Recurrence in Class II (Angle) Malocclusions

Abstract

This study is a cephalometric investigation of twenty-two patients (nineteen females and three males) in which problems of overbite evaluation, correction and recurrence were investigated. Problems of anterior cranial base superpositioning and the measuring of ramus growth are discussed. Two methods of measuring overbite are discussed and evaluated. Where overjet exists, the overjet and the axial inclination of the central incisors were found to affect the potential overbite problem. The range of depression of both maxillary and mandibular central incisors in this sample is discussed. The suggestion is made that this range indicates important information to us for indicating limitations and opportunities in treatment planning and appliance design. An increase in overbite following active treatment was observed in all members of the sample. This was also true when intermaxillary height was increasing following active treatment. A strong tendency for maxillary and mandibular central incisors to elevate following the completion of the active treatment was noted. The individual data suggests that the elevation of teeth following active treatment may be dependent upon other factors than the amount the tooth was depressed during active treatment.