title: [Effects of orthodontic treatment on temporomandibular joint in adult female low-angle patients with skeletal class III malocclusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of orthodontic treatment on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in adult low-angle patients with skeletal class III malocclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adult female low-angle patients with skeletal class III malocclusion were included in the study. All patients were treated with OPA-K straight wire technique. Lateral cephalometric and corrected transcranial projection films were taken before and after treatment. Cephalometric analysis was carried out. All data were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After orthodontic treatment, the linear measurement and area of anterior space in TMJ increased by 0.27 mm (P < 0.001) and 0.70 mm(2) (P < 0.01), respectively, while the posterior space decreased by 0.24 mm and 0.67 mm(2), respectively (P < 0.001). Linear ratio decreased from 22.13% to 9.64% (P < 0.001), and area proportion decreased from 1.56 to 1.19 (P < 0.01). Anterior space became equal to the posterior space. Cephalometric analysis showed that point Co, Ar, Go and Pg were all retruded (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After orthodontic therapy, the condyle moved posteriorly to normal concentric position, which would be helpful in alleviating temporomandibular disorders (TMD) symptom in adult low-angle patients with skeletal class III malocclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. wangchl@sdu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Chun-ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Xiu-yin
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult