A retrospective study on patients treated with standard orthodontics

In standard orthodontic treatment (SOT), despite several innovations incorporated to the original "edgewise" system, principles and applications remain essentially the same of those introduced by Angle in 1928, when a rectangular wire was associated to a bracket with a rectangular slot, enabling three-dimensional movements. However, besides visibility of the appliance during orthodontic treatment, the labio-lingual inclination of maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines is considered by patients and orthodontists to be an important determinant in providing aesthetic outcome after orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, the correct inclination of the anterior teeth is essential in providing good occlusion in anterior and posterior regions, and is basically dependent on the correct expression of torque. Here a case series of patients treated with SOT is performed to verify the efficiency, effectiveness, and stability of treatment. Twenty-two patients (11 females and 11 males, median age 19.6 +/- 9.5 years, min 10, max 39 years) affected by malocclusion were enrolled in this retrospective study. There were 5 skeletal class 1, 13 skeletal class 2 and 3 skeletal class 3 malocclusion, 1 cross-bites, 5 open-bite and 7 deep-bite. Orthodontic treatment was performed by using 3M Victory stainless-steel and Clarity ceramic brackets MET prescription (Unitek Orthodontic Products, Monrovia, CA). Lateral teleradiographic projections of the cranium were used. The cephalometric analysis was performed by using Dolphin Imaging System McLaughlin Cephalometric Analysis. Several variables related to teeth position were investigated. Pearson Chi Square was used to detect statistical differences among studied variables. In the present study we demonstrated that SOT using 3M system is effectiveness tool to reach good clinical results since since the vast majority of the studied variables (i.e. teeth position) have statistically significant differences between pre and post-treatment control.