Changes in the craniofacial structures and esthetic perceptions of soft-tissue profile alterations after...

The purpose of this prospective clinical trial is to evaluate the changes of soft tissues and designate the esthetic perceptions of children with Class II malocclusion after Herbst appliance therapy and maxillary molar distalization using stereophotogrammetry.

Thirty patients were allocated either to Herbst (6 boys and 9 girls; mean age = 11.60 ± 0.82 years) or distalization (4 boys and 11 girls; mean age = 11.46 ± 1.30 years) groups. Dentoskeletal and soft-tissue treatment changes were examined objectively by cephalometric analysis and stereophotogrammetry, respectively. Pre- and posttreatment profile views were evaluated subjectively by orthodontists and laypeople using the 7-point Likert scale. Intra- and intergroup comparisons for the repeated measurements were performed with 2-way variance analysis. Bonferroni test was used for multiple comparisons (P ≤0.05).

Greater skeletal changes were observed in the Herbst group than in the distalization group. Maxillary incisor retrusion and mandibular incisor protrusion were observed in the distalization and Herbst groups, respectively. Stereophotogrammetric measurements showed that mandibular body length and lower and anterior facial height increased in both treatment groups. Convexity angle (P = 0.020) and labiomental angle (P = 0.033) were greater in the Herbst group than the distalization group.

The skeletal contribution to correction of maxillomandibular discrepancy was greater in the Herbst group than the distalization group. Significant profile improvements were recorded for both groups with treatment. After both treatments, orthodontists were found to have higher rates of detection in the profiles than laypeople. The esthetic contribution of treatments to the facial profile was found similar in both groups.