ROOT RESORPTION AFTER MAXILLARY ANTERIOR RETRACTION USING EN-MASSE VERSUS TWO-STEP INCISOR RETRACTION

Abstract

Objective: To compare the changes in root length of maxillary anterior teeth following anterior retraction using En-masse versus Two-step retraction techniques, as measured on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analytical study included 30 adult orthodontic patients diagnosed with maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion who were treated with bilateral maxillary first premolar extraction. The participants were divided into two groups: the En-masse retraction group (n=15) and the Two-step retraction group (n=15). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained before (T0) and after (T1) anterior retraction to measure tooth length. The difference in tooth length between T0 and T1 was calculated to assess root resorption. An independent t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups, with a significance level set at P < 0.05. Results: Following anterior retraction, both groups exhibited a decrease in root length compared to pre-treatment levels. However, a comparison of the magnitude of root length change between the En-masse and Two-step retraction groups revealed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).

Keywords: Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs, Incisor Retraction, En-masse Retraction, Maxillary Anterior Retraction, Root Length Change, Two-step Incisor Retraction