Effect of Upper first premolars extraction During Orthodontic Treatment on Distribution of Bite Force.

Introduction: Improving masticatory and postural function is one of the primarygoals of orthodontic treatment. The assessment of the patient's occlusion throughoutthe treatment permits the orthodontist to improve the functional occlusion throughinterventional tooth movements when necessary, rendering the overall treatment to bemore efficient and decreasing the patient's discomfort. Aim: An in-vivo cross-sectionalstudy to evaluate the effect of upper first premolars extraction during orthodontictreatment on bite force distribution. Methods: Ten patients (mean age=16.13±2.17years), who would be treated orthodontically with upper first premolars extraction totreat their upper anterior teeth proclination, were selected for this study. The T-scanIII system was utilized to measure the occlusal bite force of the patients before andafter treatment, and the findings were compared. Results: There was a statisticallysignificant increase in the occlusal bite force's mean in the arch's anterior segment from5.96% (±6.57) to 14.48% (±8.81) after the orthodontic treatment. A non-statisticallysignificant increase in the occlusal bite force in the posterior right segment of thearch from 36.94% (±15.60) to 42.36 % (±11.14) was found after the treatment. Theocclusal bite force in the posterior left segment of the arch decreased insignificantlyfrom 56.45% (±15.72) to 40.15% (±13.59). It was found that there was an increase inthe distribution of occlusal bite force on the right side and a subsequent decrease on theleft side after treatment. There was an even distribution of bite force on both sides of thearch by the end of the treatment. Conclusions: Extraction of upper first premolar teethdoes not negatively impact the functional aspect of occlusion. The T-scan III system isa key diagnostic tool utilized during orthodontic treatment to monitor occlusal changes.