A comparative evaluation of pre-treatment and post-treatment outcomes in patients subjected to lower incisor extraction

Mandibular incisor crowding is the most frequently occurring characteristic of malocclusion, which can be resolved by removing single lower incisor. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the pre- and post-treatment outcomes through model and cephalometric analysis of the patients subjected to single lower incisor extraction. In this retrospective study pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms and models of 23 patients who underwent fixed orthodontic treatment with single incisor extraction on lower arch were evaluated. The study subjects were classified into two groups based on extraction pattern (Group I: Upper premolar and lower single incisor extraction; Group II: Upper non extraction and lower single incisor extraction). Both cephalometric and model analysis were carried out using Ilexis FACAD AB-2014 Version3.8.0.0 (Ilexis AB, Sweden). Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to compare the pre and post-treatment quantitative parameters. A significant decrease was observed in the maxillary intermolar width, mandibular intercanine width, mandibular intermolar width, mandibular arch length and anterior Bolton’s ratio. Group I subjects revealed a greater decrease in maxillary intermolar width compared to Group II, whereas a greater decrease in mandibular intercanine width, mandibular intermolar width and anterior Bolton’s ratio was documented in Group II subjects compared to Group I. Cephalometric analysis revealed significant proclination and extrusion effect of lower incisors along with protrusive tendency of the lower lip. The findings of the present study provide an additional option of extracting single lower incisor, in borderline or Class II camouflage treatment cases.