title: Facial changes following treatment with a removable orthodontic appliance in adults.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine soft tissue facial changes in adults with mild Class I or Class II malocclusions, treated with a removable orthodontic appliance (Homeoblock '). Standardized intra-oral and frontal facial photographs of 25 adults were scanned and x, y coordinates of 16 maxillary arch and nine facial landmarks were digitized. Mean maxillary arch and facial configurations were subjected to finite-element analysis (FEA). Results showed that the mean pre- and post-treatment maxillary and facial configurations differed statistically (p < 0.05). Specifically, the maxillary arch showed a 30% relative size increase in the mid-palatal region with shape changes consistent with improved dental alignment and maxillary expansion in the transverse direction. For facial changes, a 10% size increase was localized in the nasomaxillary region, and the intercanthal angle changed from -4.6(0) to +4.2(0) (p < 0.05). It is concluded that dental and facial changes associated with the Homeoblock' removable orthodontic appliance are consistent with a broader smile and a more symmetrical facial appearance in non-growing adults.
authors.affiliation: Center for Craniofacial Disorders, Office A-570 School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067. gdsingh@rcm.upr.edu
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Celimar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busquets-Vaello
authors.forename: Theodore R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Belfor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy*; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D009968:Orthodontic Appliances, Removable; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome