Long-term effects of Class II orthodontic treatment on oral health

• DOI: 10.1007/s00056-018-0125-5
• Publication Date: 2018-02-20T17:15:02Z
• Authors: N.C. Bock; M. Saffar; H. Hudel; M. Evälahti; K. Heikinheimo; D.P.C. Rice; S. Ruf
• Keywords: Adult; Male; DMF Index; Oral Health; Dental Caries; Malocclusion, Angle Class II; 16. Peace & justice; Orthodontics, Corrective; Cohort Studies; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Patient Satisfaction; Humans; Female; Periodontal Diseases; Follow-Up Studies

To investigate the long-term (≥15 years) benefit of orthodontic Class II treatment (Tx) on oral health (OH).All patients (Department of Orthodontics, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany) who underwent Class II correction (Herbst-multibracket Tx, end of active Tx ≥ 15 years ago) and agreed to participate in a recall (clinical examination, interview, impressions, and photographs) were included. Records after active Tx were used to assess the long-term OH effects. Data were compared to corresponding population-representative age-cohorts as well as to untreated Class I controls without orthodontic Tx need during adolescence.Of 152 treated Class II patients, 75 could be located and agreed to participate at 33.7 ± 3.0 years of age (pre-Tx age: 14.0 ± 2.7 years). The majority (70.8%) were fully satisfied with their teeth and with their masticatory system. The Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth Index (DMFT) was 7.1 ± 4.8 and, thus, almost identical to that of the untreated Class I controls (7.9 ± 3.6). In contrast, the DMFT in the population-representative age-cohort was 56% higher. The determined mean Community Periodontal Index (CPI) maximum score (1.6 ± 0.6) was also comparable to the untreated Class I controls (1.7 ± 0.9) but in the corresponding population-representative age-cohort it was 19-44% higher. The extent of lower incisor gingival recessions did not differ significantly between the treated Class II participants and the untreated Class I controls (0.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.0 ± 0.1 mm).Patients with orthodontically treated severe Class II malocclusions had a lower risk for oral health impairment than the general population. The risk corresponded to that of untreated Class I controls (without orthodontic Tx need during adolescence).