MAXIMUM INTERINCISAL CLEARANCE AND FIXED ORTHODONTICS

Background:While fixed orthodontic therapy is undertaken, mouth opening is one of the key clinical parameters
supposed to be affected, which is essential for normal function and various dental as well as orthodontic procedures.
Aim:To evaluate effects of fixed orthodontic appliance on mouth opening by measuring it’s maximum millimeter
distance for three different groups.
Materials and Methods: A total of (337) subject, with mean age of patients was (23.11± 6.10) years are randomly
requited to participate in the study. Almost all sample are students from faculties of medical group of Babylon
University. They are categorized as (total, male, female) groups, which are further subdivided into three groups
(control, treatment, post-treatment). The participant are requested to open as much as possible so the maximum mouth opening was recorded using digital caliper.
Results:The mouth opening mean values are (42.84 ± 8.01; 46.07 ± 8.26; 39.54 ± 6.24) for total, males, and females of control group; respectively. However, these values seems to be increased significantly during active treatment with
fixed orthodontic appliance for all groups. Unfortunately, the post-treatment (retention) group showing a reduction in
maximum mouth opening reaching closer of what was measured initially for the control subjects whether total or
gender groups are dealing with.
Conclusion:Although it is not a follow up study, the temporal positive change in maximum mouth opening for a
limited time resulting from addressing some teeth irregularities during fixed orthodontic appliance treatment could
predict weak or even no association between orthodontic therapy and mouth opening.