Comparison of WALA ridge and dental arch dimensions changes after orthodontic treatment using a passive self-ligating system or conventional fixed appliance.

OBJECTIVE

To compare changes in WALA ridge and mandibular dental arch dimensions in orthodontic patients treated with a passive self-ligating system and conventional appliances.

DESIGN

Original paper.

SETTING

Orthodontic department at Inga University Center, Maringá, PR, Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pretreatment (T1) and posttreatment (T2) dental casts of 60 patients with Class I malocclusion treated with slight to moderate crowding that were divided into two groups. Group 1: 30 patients treated with a passive self-ligating system, at a mean initial age of 17.68 years and mean treatment time of 2.31 years. Group 2: 30 patients treated with conventional appliances, at a mean initial age of 19.23 years and mean treatment time of 2.56 years. Measurements were taken using a digital caliper directly on pre and posttreatment dental casts to evaluate the transversal dimension behavior of the mandibular dental arch and the WALA ridge width.

RESULTS

Self-ligating group presented an increase in WALA ridge width and mandibular transversal dimensions significantly greater than the conventional group, with the exception of intermolar cusp tip distance and intercanine WALA ridge. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. There was also observed a significantly greater increase of the transversal buccal axis dimensions in the premolar area when compared to the WALA ridge increase in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with a passive self-ligating system resulted in a significantly greater increase of the WALA ridge width and mandibular arch dimensions when compared to conventional appliance.