Evaluation of maxillary canine and molar movement during the first phase of extraction space closure: a multilevel analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was designed to analyze and compare the cusp and apex movements of the maxillary canines and first molars during canine retraction in the first step of extraction space closure, and to evaluate if these teeth follow a curvilinear (acceleration and/or deceleration) movement rate. Material and Methods: Twenty-five patients (23.3 ± 5.1 years of age) were enrolled. The retraction of the maxillary canines was accomplished using nickel-titanium closed coil springs (100gf) on 0.020-in stainless steel archwire. Oblique cephalograms were traced and superimposed on the anatomic best fit of the maxilla (before the retraction [T0], and after one month [T1], three [T3], five [T5] and seven [T7] months). Statistics was based in a normally distributed data. Multilevel procedures were used to derive polynomials for each of the measurements. Student’s t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA were conducted. The level of significance of 5% was adopted. Results: Canine cusps and apexes did not follow a quadratic curve regarding horizontal movement (neither accelerate nor decelerate). Canine and molar cusps showed more horizontal movement than apexes (4.80 mm vs. 2.78 mm, and 2.64 mm vs. 2.17 mm, respectively). Conclusions: Canine did not accelerate or decelerate overtime horizontally; the cusps and apexes of the canines and molars showed more horizontal movement and larger rate at the beginning of canine retraction, followed by significantly smaller and constant movement rate after the first month. RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a movimentação das cúspides e dos ápices de caninos e primeiros molares superiores durante a retração de caninos na primeira fase do fechamento do espaço pós-extração, e avaliar se esses dentes apresentam mudança na taxa de movimentação (aceleração e/ou desaceleração). Material e Métodos: Vinte e cinco pacientes (idade = 23,3 ± 5,1 anos) foram incluídos. A retração dos caninos superiores foi realizada com molas helicoidais fechadas de níquel-titânio (100gf) em arco 0,020” de aço inoxidável. Foram feitos traçados cefalométricos de telerradiografias oblíquas e sobrepostos ao melhor ajuste anatômico da maxila (antes da retração [T0]; após um mês [T1], três meses [T3], cinco meses [T5] e sete meses [T7]). A estatística foi baseada em dados com distribuição normal. Procedimentos multiníveis foram usados para derivar polinômios para cada uma das medidas. Teste t de Student e ANOVA de uma via para medi