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Background: Understanding the impact of fixed orthodontic appliances on mouth opening is crucial for orthodontists
to minimize complications and ensure a comfortable and functional treatment outcome.
Aim:To evaluate the effects of facial type for subjects undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance on greatest mouth
opening, by estimating the vertical distance between the upper and lower incisors using the digital vernia.
Materials and Methods:A total of randomly selected (320) university student, their age between 18-23 years, are
requited for the study. The sample are selected from students of three colleges of medical group. Maximum mouth
opening was took from each participant by measuring the distance between two reference points (the upper and lower
incisors’ edge) while the participant open maximally. According to facial type, the study sample is categorized as an
average (175) and convex (145) facial profile; each study group is further subdivided into three groups thereafter ( nontreated, treated, post-treated).
Results: The recorded mean values of mouth opening are (42.49 ± 8.10; 49.68 ± 9.14; 46.10 ± 8.33) and (44.11 ± 7.66;
49.05 ± 7.93; 45.47 ± 8.65) for study (non-treated, treated, post-treated) groups of average and convex facial profile;
respectively. The transient significant increase in MMO during orthodontic treatment and the likely similar manner of
mouth opening among all groups of both facial types indicating that there is no direct relationship among all these
parameters.
Conclusion: Neither fixed orthodontic therapy nor the facial type of individuals are considered during clinical
evaluation of maximum mouth opening.