Maxillary Incisor Intrusion Using Two Conventional Intrusion Arches and Mini Implants: A Prospective Study

Abstract

This study aimed to compare cephalometrically the rate of maxillary incisor intrusion using mini implants, Connecticut intrusion arches, and segmental intrusion arches. Thirty-two adult patients with deep bite were divided into three groups: 10 patients in mini implant and Connecticut intrusion arch group each and 12 patients in segmental intrusion arch group. Bilateral mini implants were used for intrusion in Group 1. Connecticut intrusion arch and Burstone's three-piece intrusion arch were used for intrusion in Group 2 and Group 3, respectively. Intrusion was carried out in all the patients for 4 months. Lateral cephalograms were taken just after alignment and leveling (T1) and after 4 months of intrusion (T2). The mean amount of intrusion observed was 1.7 mm (0.425 mm/month) in mini implant group, 1.4 mm (0.35 mm/month) in Connecticut intrusion arch group, and 1.66 mm (0.415 mm/month) in segmental intrusion arch group. No statistically significant difference was found in the extent of incisor intrusion in the three groups (p <0.05). The study failed to reject the null hypothesis, and there was no statistically significant difference in the amount and rate of incisor intrusion achieved among the three groups (p >0.05). Significant amount of incisor intrusion was carried out by all the three methods. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount and rate of incisor intrusion achieved by the three methods. Clinically, mini implants can be considered superior to the conventional techniques as it provides absolute anchorage which eliminates unwanted effects of incisor intrusion.