The Influence of Angle Class II Malocclusion Treatment Method on Patients‘ Facial Changes

The relevance of the problem and aim of the work. The major purpose of modern orthodontic treatment is to obtain a proper and stable occlusal relationship as well as an aesthetically pleasing and well-balanced face. It is therefore important to evaluate facial soft tissues in addition to cephalometric analysis of skeletal and dental structures. Orthodontic treatment has been shown to alter the relationship between facial structures, thus, the objective of the research is to determine the influence of Angle Class II malocclusion treatment method and patient‘s individual characteristics on facial changes. Material and the methods. 151 patients, who have received treatment of Angle Class II malocclusion, were evaluated retrospectively (the average pretreatment age was 14,8 ± 3,52 years). Patients‘ pre- and post-treatment frontal and profile photographs, pretreatment lateral cephalograms were collected and analysed using the ,,Dolphin Imaging” database. Angular measurements between facial soft tissue profile landmarks were taken. Facial changes were compared according to a patient‘s gender, the growth stage, the morphology of the anomaly and the method used for treatment. The statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software. Results. The results showed significant gender differences in changes in the smile arc (p=0,026), G-Sn-Pg‘ (p=0,025) and Cm-Sn-Ls (p=0,014) angles. Changes in N‘-Prn-Pg‘ (p=0,044) and N‘-Prn-Cm (p=0,002) angles varied according to the growth stage. Differences in the lip competence (p=0,016), the smile arc (p=0,022) as well as G-Sn-Pg‘ (p<0,001), N‘-Prn-Pg‘ (p<0,001), N‘-Prn/N‘-Pg‘ (p<0,001), N‘-Pg‘/N‘-Ls (p<0,001), N‘-Pg‘/N‘-Li (p=0,001) and Li-Sm-Pg‘ (p