[Orthodontic treatment of skeletal Class III patients with mandibular third molar extraction in both post-puberty and adult].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the skeletodental changes after extracting mandibular third molars in skeletal Class III patients in both post-puberty and adult.

METHODS

Nineteen skeletal Class III patients in post-puberty or adult (16 female, 3 male) successfully treated with extracting mandibular third molars were included in the study. Cephalograms were analyzed to assess the skeletal and dental changes before and after treatment. Paired t-test was performed for statistical analysis of the data.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the main changes were upright [(12.37 ± 6.81)°] and distal movement [(3.16 ± 1.23) mm] of the mandibular molars, and retraction [(1.98 ± 1.36) mm] of the mandibular incisors. There was a significant improvement in overjet [(2.75 ± 1.65) mm].

CONCLUSIONS

The lower molars and incisors could be distalized significantly with extraction of the lower third molars.