Published online Jan 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i2.284
Peer-review started: September 23, 2019
First decision: December 4, 2019
Revised: December 17, 2019
Accepted: December 21, 2019
Article in press: December 21, 2019
Published online: January 26, 2020
Processing time: 115 Days and 21.5 Hours
Relapse following orthodontic treatment has been a common problem that can occur due to several factors. It was suggested that surgical circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy (CSF) is an effective measure to reduce this relapse. However, very few studies have reported the amount of relapse that occurs afterward.
To assess the frequency of rotational relapse on anterior teeth 1 year following CSF.
Eleven adults (six male and five female) with a mean age of 23 years (standard deviation = 5.2), who had a total of 90 rotated anterior teeth, were included in this study. CSF was performed after comprehensive orthodontic treatment involving the use of full-fixed preadjusted edgewise appliances (Victory Series APC, 3M, United States) with a 0.022-inch slot and Roth prescription brackets (Ovation; DENTSPLY GAC, Bohemia, New York, United States) and placement of a fixed lingual retainer from canine to canine in both arches using a 0.016 Australian wire (AJ Wilcock, Australia). Degrees of rotational correction and relapse were measured on three sets of casts [pretreatment, post-treatment (at the debond visit), and 1-year post-treatment]. Rotational relapse was categorized as follows: Unnoticeable relapse (0°), barely noticeable relapse (1°-3°), noticeable relapse (4°-9°), and clearly noticeable relapse (≥ 10°). The percent relapse that had occurred 1 year after teeth were aligned to their ideal position was calculated. Data were analyzed by dental arch type and tooth types.
Mean rotational correction was 14.05° during posttreatment. Mean relapse at 1-year follow-up was 1.1° (10.8%). More than half (n = 52, 57.8%) of teeth were categorized as having unnoticeable relapse (0°). Of the remaining teeth, 31 (34.5%) had barely noticeable relapse (1°-3°), 6 (6.6%) had noticeable relapse (4°-9°), and only one (1.1%) had clearly noticeable relapse (> 10°). When analyzed by arch, 54.5% (n = 6) of the relapsed maxillary teeth had barely noticeable relapse (1°-3°). While most of the mandibular teeth (3, 37.5%) fell into noticeable relapse category (4°-9°), only 1 (12.5%) tooth had clearly noticeable relapse (≥ 10°).
When relapse was measured following CSF, it was found to be more pronounced in maxillary than in mandibular arch. Most frequent relapse was found in maxillary lateral incisors and mandibular canines.
Core tip: Postorthodontic rotational relapse was more frequent in the maxillary arch than in the mandibular arch. Approximately 42% of teeth showed some degree of rotational relapse. Only one tooth had clearly noticeable relapse (> 10°). Relapse was most frequent in the maxillary lateral incisors and mandibular canines. Conventional circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy was effective in minimizing rotational relapse when assessed 1 year after the procedure. Future controlled studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to evaluate the present findings.