Rotation of the upper first molar in Class I, II, and III patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mean rotation of the upper first molar (U1(st) M) in cast models from nontreated patients presenting: Class I, skeletal Class II, dental Class II, and skeletal Class III, comparing with Class I orthodontically treated patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred cast models were evaluated with five groups, composed of nontreated Class I (n = 20), dental Class II (n = 20), skeletal Class II (n = 20), skeletal Class III (n = 20), and treated Class I (n = 20). Measurements were taken from photocopies of the upper arches. The angle formed between a line crossing the mesiopalatal and the distal-buccalcusps of the U1(st) M and a line traced on mid palatal junction were measured in all samples. RESULTS: One-way variance analysis showed that dental Class II group presented great mean rotation of the 1(st) molar (x = 78.95°, SD = 6.19) (P < 0.05), and in 85% of the patients from this group this angle was higher than 73°. CONCLUSIONS: The skeletal Class II and skeletal Class III groups showed similar mean position of the 1(st) molar, presenting rotation in approximately 50% of the patients. It can be concluded that upper molar rotation occurs mainly in dental Class II patients and shows higher mesial rotation angle.