Comparison of the Condyle Sagittal Position of Class I and Class II Division 2 in Orthodontic Patients.

AIM

To compare the condyle sagittal position of class I and class II division 2 in orthodontic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty orthodontic cases (30 females and 20 males; 12-31 years) from the records of an Orthodontic Graduate Program were collected. Such cases presented cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as part of their initial diagnostic examinations. The study sample constituted two groups, class I and class II division 2 groups. A previously calibrated examiner performed the measurements of the images, representing the distance between the condyle and the articular surface of the glenoid fossa, both anteriorly (anterior disk space-ADS) and posteriorly (posterior disk space-PDS). Descriptive statistics were performed. Data were normally distributed, and parametric tests were used. Paired sample test was used to identify differences between the right and the left joints. Differences between class I and class II/2 groups were tested using independent test. All statistical tests were interpreted at 5% significance level.

RESULTS

When the study groups were compared in relation to the dimensions observed for the right and the left ADS and PDS, no significant differences were detected. This study also calculated the differences between right and left disk spaces within the groups, and the differences were not significant for both class I and class II/2 groups.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated, after the performance of a CBCT comparative analysis, that there is no significant difference between class II/2 and class I orthodontic patients in relation to the condyle sagittal position.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The results collected here refute the expectation of spontaneous mandibular anterior repositioning after correcting the overbite in class II/2 patients.