Bony profile changes resulting from cervical traction compared with those resulting from intermaxillary elastics

Abstract

Before- and after-treatment headfilms were measured according to certain angular and linear measurements on thirty-two cases treated with cervical anchorage and on thirty-eight cases treated with intermaxillary elastics in addition to cervical anchorage. The variations in the changes occurring in points A and B, pogonion, lower face height, and mandibular plane angle were recorded. According to the mean of the reduction in A-B difference, change in point A distally was responsible for any improvement in either type of treatment. Point B also moved distally in both types of treatment, but to a larger degree in those cases treated with cervical anchorage alone. Except in individual cases, the forward movement of the mandible was not responsible for improvement in A-B distance. The amount of increase in vertical height was similar in the two groups, but the Frankfort-mandibular plane angle opened more in the group handled with cervical anchorage, and point B moved farther distally. Seven patients from the cervical anchorage group and nine patients from the intermaxillary elastic group were chosen because of their excellent cooperation. The same measurements were compiled on them, and a comparison was made of the changes occurring in certain areas. The findings were similar to those in the larger groups, except that in several instances the variation of the treatment results found in the two types of treatment was considerably more emphatic.