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INTRODUCTION
The real prevalence of Class II malocclusion is difficult to determine because of different methods used
in studies and ethnic characteristics of the samples.
Studies show that the prevalence of Class II division
1 and division 2 malocclusions varies from 8.6%1 to
33.7%2 and from 0.6%1 to 6.7%,3 respectively. An accurate occlusal analysis performed in Brazil showed
that Class II constitutes almost 50% of the malocclusions in the deciduous4 and mixed5 dentitions.
Class II malocclusion can be constituted by upper
dental proclination, mandibular deficiency, or both. A
study relating Class II malocclusion to facial analysis
Orthodontist, Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial
Anomalies, University of Sao Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.
b
Associate Professor, PROFIS Interceptive Orthodontics
Course, Bauru, Brazil.
c
Orthodontist, Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial
Anomalies, University of Sao Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.
Corresponding author: Dr Omar Gabriel da Silva Filho, Setor
de OrtodontiaHRAC/USP, Silvio Marchione, 3-20 Vl. Universitaria, 17012-900 Bauru/SP, Brazil
(e-mail: ortoface@travelnet.com.br)
a
466
DOI: 10.2319/022307-89.1
467
Figure 1. Orthodontic diagnosis is based on facial (1A), radiographic (1B), and occlusal (1C to 1K) analyses. Patient has Class II division 1
malocclusion with mandibular deficiency.
tercanine and intermolar distances in Class II malocclusions, without any dimensional change in the lower
dental arch widths in young adults. Uysal et al23 found
constriction in the transverse dimensions of the upper
dental arch and in the widths of the interlower premolars and interlower molars of young adults with
Class II division 1.
Studies also show that the lower dental arch is more
vulnerable to Class II division 2. When Uysal et al23
compared Class II division 1 and 2 malocclusions,
they found that the inter-lower canine and inter-lower
premolar widths were narrower while the inter-upper
molar widths were wider in the division 2 in comparison to division 1. Buschang et al20 found reduced interlower canine and inter-lower molar distances in the
Class II division 2 related to division 1 and to Class I.
Walkow and Peck24 found narrower inter-lower canine
distances in the Class II division 2 malocclusions with
deep overbite when related to division 1.
Angle Orthodontist, Vol 78, No 3, 2008
468
Figure 2. Dental cast models representing Class II division 1 (AE). Simulation of the malocclusion correction (FH) with mandibular advancement shows the posterior crossbite that appears due to the maxillary transverse deficiency.
(HRCA), University of Sao Paulo, Bauru, Brazil. All patients were consecutively selected from an orthodontic
archive that belongs to our hospital (HRCA).
The experimental group was composed of models
of the upper and lower dental arches of 48 patients
exhibiting Class II division 1 malocclusion with mandibular deficiency, equally matched for gender and
ranging in age from 11 years 4 months to 18 years 4
months. All subjects in this group were Caucasians in
permanent dentition, with the second molars either
erupted or erupting, and the patients demonstrated untreated Class II division 1 malocclusions with a symmetric sagittal discrepancy of at least 4 mm in the premolar relationship. The selection of individuals was
clinical and based on a soft-tissue profile analysis, with
special attention to the nasolabial angle, which indicates participation of the maxilla in the malocclusion.
All patients of the sample presented a satisfactory nasolabial angle, showing that the Class II malocclusion
469
Year
Age
Control Sample
n
Age
Baccetti et
al8
1997
5 y 8 mo and 8 y 1
mo (longitudinal
study)
25 (13 M,
12 F)
5 y 5 mo and 7 y 8
mo (longitudinal
study)
Bishara et
al15
1996
37 (15 M,
22 F)
Buschang
et al20
1994
Stage 1: 5.1 M, 5 F
Stage 2: 8.2 M, 8.5 F
Stage 3: 12.7 M,
12.8 F (longitudinal study)
Between 17 and 25 y
Stage 1: 4.9 M, 5 F
Stage 2: 7.8 M, 8.1 F
Stage 3: 13 M, 13.1
F (longitudinal
study)
Between 17 and 25 y
Lux et al18b
2003
Between 25 and 35 y
More than 35 y
From 7 to 15 y (longitudinal study)
145 F
121 Cl II/2
24 Cl II/1
Cl II/1: 17 (8
M, 9 F)
Cl II/2: 12 (8
M, 4 F)
Between 25 and 35 y
More than 35 y
From 7 to 15 y (longitudinal study)
Sayin and
2004
Turkkaharaman21
16.07 y
30 F
19.17 y
Staley et
al22
1985
22.1 y M, 18 years F
39 (20 M
and 19 F)
20.6 y M, 16 y F
Uysal et al23
2005
Walkow and
Peck24
2002
12.4 y
Cl I/1: 106
(45 M, 61 F)
Cl II/2: 108
(45 M, 63 F)
23 Cl II/2
(20 M, 3 F)
a
b
21.6 y
12.4 y
n
22 (9 M, 13 F)
55 (28 M,
27 F)
241 F
150 (72 M,
78 F)
46 (paired
with Cl II/2
group)
Measurements
University of
Michigan/
University of
Florence
University of
Iowa
Transverse
(upper and
lower dental
arches)
Sagittal and
transverse
(upper and
lower dental
arches)
Sagittal, transverse, and
condition of
the incisors
CL I: 37 (19
M, 18 F)
Normal occlusion: 18
(10 M, 8 F)
30 F
36 (19 M,
17 F)
Origin
Belfast Growth
Study
Transverse
(upper and
lower dental
arches)
University of
Suleyman
Demirel,
Turkey
University of
Iowa
Transverse
(upper and
lower dental
arches)
Transverse
(upper and
lower dental
arches)
Transverse
(upper and
lower dental
arches)
Transverse
University of
Selcuk, Turkey
Harvard University
470
Table 2. Means (x), Standard Deviations (SD), and Students t-Test for the Transverse and Sagittal Dimensions of the Upper and Lower
Dental Arches in the Normal Occlusion Group, According to Sex
Upper Dental Arch
Male (n 22)
Female (n 29)
Male (n 22)
Female (n 29)
Dimension
SD
SD
SD
SD
Anteroposterior
Intercanines
Interfirst premolars
Intersecond premolars
Interfirst molars
38.88
35.98
43.78
49.37
54.21
2.02
2.32
2.37
2.96
3.58
36.34
33.73
41.72
46.88
52.24
1.94
2.19
2.18
2.34
2.81
**
**
**
**
*
34.28
26.88
35.51
41.23
46.91
1.86
1.84
2.15
2.42
2.81
32.15
25.44
33.62
39.86
45.62
1.96
1.96
2.16
2.42
2.58
**
**
**
**
*
* Significant at 5%.
** Significant at 1%.
Angle Orthodontist, Vol 78, No 3, 2008
471
Table 3. Means (x), Standard Deviations (SD), and Students t-Test for the Transverse and Sagittal Dimensions of the Upper and Lower
Dental Arches in the Class II Group, According to Sexa
Upper Dental Arch
Male (n 24)
Female (n 24)
Male (n 24)
Female (n 24)
Dimension
SD
SD
SD
SD
Anteroposterior
Intercanines
Interfirst premolars
Intersecond premolars
Interfirst molars
41.33
34.25
39.58
44.25
49.77
2.92
2.92
2.43
3.55
2.53
41.18
32.91
37.30
42.54
47.45
2.36
1.88
2.11
2.48
2.09
NS
NS
**
NS
**
35.19
27.32
34.35
40.22
45.06
3.05
2.14
2.59
2.81
2.33
34.96
26.12
32.56
38.07
43.79
1.52
1.78
2.36
3.19
2.81
NS
*
*
*
NS
permanent dentition. Forty-eight subjects exhibited untreated Class II division 1, while 51 showed normal
occlusion. The sample included patients in permanent
dentition because the sagittal and transverse dimensions of the dental arches at this time are practically
defined and because this is the age when most patients seek orthodontic treatment. Longitudinal studies
suggest that the dimensions of the dental arches tend
to stabilize after 13 years of age in girls and 16 years
in boys,9,2730 although the dimensional changes that
DISCUSSION
This study aimed to determine the influence that the
Class II malocclusion with a mandibular deficiency has
on the dimensions of the dental arches. Studies rarely
include Class II patients with mandibular retropositioning; thus, we decided to standardize our sample on
the basis of mandibular deficiency. All 99 cast models
analyzed represented the occlusion of subjects with
Table 4. Statistical Comparison (Students t-Test) for the Transverse and Sagittal Dimensions of the Upper Dental Arch Between Normal and
Class II Groups for Males and Femalesa
Males
Normal (n 22)
Females
Class II (n 24)
Normal (n 29)
Class II (n 24)
Dimension
SD
SD
SD
SD
Anteroposterior
Intercanines
Interfirst premolars
Intersecond premolars
Interfirst molars
38.88
35.98
43.78
49.37
54.21
2.02
2.32
2.37
2.96
3.58
41.33
34.25
39.58
44.25
49.77
2.92
2.92
2.43
3.55
2.53
**
*
**
**
**
36.34
33.73
41.72
46.88
52.24
1.94
2.19
2.18
2.34
2.81
41.18
32.91
37.30
42.54
47.45
2.36
1.88
2.11
2.48
2.09
**
NS
**
**
**
NS indicates nonsignificant.
* Significant at 5%.
** Significant at 1%.
472
influence the intra-arch dental positioning are unpredictable and may occur anytime in normal occlusions.31
The results in Table 2 show higher values for males
and are consistent with prior studies that assessed
dental arch dimensions.2729 However, in our study, the
Class II group did not show the same differences (Table 3). Only the widths of the interupper first premolars, interupper molars, interlower canines, inter
lower first premolars, and interlower second premolars showed statistically significant differences related
to gender. Class II malocclusion seems to minimize
the influence of gender on the dimensions of the lower
and, mainly, upper dental arch. Therefore, sexual dimorphism influenced all sagittal and transverse dimensions of the dental arches in individuals with normal
occlusion and some transverse dimensions in Class II
individuals. Because many dimensions were influenced by gender, the normal occlusion and the Class
II groups were compared according to gender. This
comparison is shown in Tables 4 and 5.
Class II malocclusions seem to induce changes in
the dimensions and, consequently, the upper dental
arch shape. With regard to the sagittal dimensions, the
findings show statistically significant differences between the normal and Class II groups. Subjects with
Class II malocclusion presented with longer upper
dental arches, most likely due to the proclination of the
upper incisors. The upper dental arch in the Class II
subjects presented with lesser transverse dimensions
(Table 4) and a typical triangular shape (Figures 1 and
2). A statistically significant difference was noticed in
all measurements except in the upper intercanine distance in females.
Table 6 shows the sagittal and transverse differences between both groups, which indicate the average
amount of expansion needed in the upper arch to
transversely fit it to the advanced mandible in Class I
patients. Therefore, constriction of the upper dental
arch is not generally accompanied by posterior cross-
bite in the Class II division 1 patients. It has been suggested that constriction of the upper arch in the Class
II patients is due to constriction of the nasomaxilary
complex, identified in posteroanterior radiographs.19,25
Frontal cephalograms show alterations in the upper
dental arch with no transverse changes in the mandible and lower dental arch.19,25
Similar to other researchers (Table 1), Frohlich32
studied a longitudinal sample of 51 children aged 6 to
12 years and noticed that the sagittal discrepancy remained during the follow-up period, with an increase
of the overjet and overbite after eruption of the permanent incisors. However, no difference was found in
the dimensions of the dental arches with Class II. Such
a contradiction is probably explained because the
Class II divisions 1 and 2 subjects were gathered together in that sample. The current research does not
confirm Frohlichs32 results. On the contrary, our results agree with several other studies that have shown
changes in the shapes of dental arches with Class II
malocclusion.19,2123,27
Despite other factors related to the upper arch constriction, such as oral breathing, prolonged sucking
habits, and inadequate positioning and function of the
tongue, the transverse adaptation of the upper arch to
the lower arch may not be neglected. Such adaptation
happens naturally as a transverse compensation of
the upper arch to the retropositioning of the lower arch
and is typical of Class II division 1 malocclusions.
Therefore, dental compensation in Class II is neither
restricted to the sagittal dimensions nor to the incisors.
An accurate orthodontic tridimensional morphologic
evaluation (Figures 1 and 2) would provide a complete
and correct interpretation of the sagittal, transverse,
and vertical alterations found in Class II malocclusions. The current study focuses on the transverse
changes and corroborates the need for expanding the
upper arch prior to mandibular advancement. The clinical confirmation of the upper arch constriction is evidenced by the posterior crossbite that results when the
Table 5. Statistical Comparison (Students t-Test) for the Transverse and Sagittal Dimensions of the Lower Dental Arch Between Normal and
Class II Groups for Males and Femalesa
Males
Normal (n 22)
Females
Class II (n 24)
Normal (n 29)
Class II (n 24)
Dimension
SD
SD
SD
SD
Anteroposterior
Intercanines
Interfirst premolars
Intersecond premolars
Interfirst molars
34.28
26.88
35.51
41.33
46.91
1.86
1.84
2.15
2.42
2.81
35.19
27.32
34.35
40.22
45.06
3.05
2.14
2.59
2.81
2.33
NS
NS
NS
NS
*
32.15
25.44
33.62
39.86
45.62
1.96
1.96
2.16
2.42
2.58
34.96
26.12
32.56
38.07
43.79
1.52
1.78
2.36
3.19
2.81
**
NS
NS
*
*
a
NS indicates nonsignificant.
* Significant at 5%.
** Significant at 1%.
473
InterAnteroposterior canines
Males
Females
Mean
2.45
4.84
3.64
1.17
0.82
0.99
Inter
First
Premolars
Inter
Second
Premolars
Inter
First
Molars
4.20
4.42
4.31
5.12
4.34
4.73
4.44
4.79
4.61
by Sayin and Turkkahramam21 and Frohlich.32 The former authors noticed changes in the lower intercanine
width in women (mean age 16 years) that were
greater in Class II subjects, while the latter did not find
any influence of Class II on the lower dental arch in
growing children.
Constriction of the upper dental arch in Class II division 1 malocclusion is reflected in the differences between the transverse dimensions of the upper and
lower arches.
CONCLUSION
Anteroposterior
Intercanines
Interfirst premolars
Intersecond premolars
Interfirst molars
Males
Females
Mean
4.60
9.10
8.27
8.14
7.30
4.20
8.29
8.10
7.02
6.62
4.40
8.70
8.20
7.60
6.70
Anteroposterior
Intercanines
Interfirst premolars
Intersecond premolars
Interfirst molars
Males
Females
Mean
6.14
6.93
5.23
4.03
4.71
6.22
6.79
4.74
4.47
3.66
6.20
6.80
5.00
4.20
4.20
474
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