Assessment of anteroposterior and transverse first premolar extraction changes using palatal rugae and comparative analysis with lateral cephalogram in Angle′s Class I and II patients: An institutional retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction:The most common method of resolving substantial tooth size-arch length discrepancies (TSALD) is extraction of premolars followed by space closure that involves distal movement of anterior teeth, mesial movement of posterior teeth, or a combination of both. The palate is an important area to describe change during premolar extractions, especially the palatal rugae due to their supposed uniqueness and overall stability1. The aim of this study was to measure changes in the positions of the incisors and molars, relative to the palatal rugae and the changes in arch width relative to the mid palatine raphe. Materials and methods:It was a retrospective study of 90 treated cases, 30 cases each of 3 different types of malocclusion from the Department of Orthodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University.Measurements from the dental study models were compared to the values obtained from the lateral cephalograms after digitising with a view box software.arch width changes were also assessed .conclusion: Measurements obtained from the study models were comparable to measurements from the lateral cephalogram for and so superimposition of progressive study models can also be used to assess antero posterior tooth movements as with maxillary cephalometric superimpositions, which indeed provides us with a cost effective alternative.