Profile changes following extraction orthodontic treatment: A comparison of first versus second premolar extraction

To determine the change in the soft tissue profile following extraction orthodontic treatment with either first or second premolar extractions.

This was a retrospective clinical study of 81 consecutive orthodontic patients treated with extraction of four premolars. Patients were divided into two treatment groups according to whether four first premolar teeth (PM1 treatment group, n=48) or four second premolar teeth were removed (PM2 treatment group, n=33) during treatment. Changes in the nasolabial angle and the distance of the upper and lower lips to E-plane were compared pre- and post-treatment. Age, sex, upper lip thickness, facial convexity, facial axis, upper and lower arch crowding at pre-treatment, use of molar anchorage and the amount of retrusion of the maxillary and mandibular incisor teeth during treatment were used as explanatory variables.

When facial convexity and facial axis at pre-treatment, the use of maxillary anchorage and the amount of retrusion of the maxillary and mandibular incisor teeth achieved as a consequence of treatment were taken into account, there was less than one degree (0.67°) difference between the change in the nasolabial angle in the PM1 treatment group compared to the PM2 treatment group (P>0.05). The mean change in the upper lip position relative to E-plane and the mean change in lower lip position relative to E-plane were also similar for the two groups.

The change in soft tissue profile following orthodontic treatment was similar regardless of whether first premolar or second premolar teeth were removed.