Evaluation of dentoalveolar compensation in skeletal class II malocclusion in a Pakistani University Hospital setting.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively evaluate the pattern of dentoalveolar compensation in skeletal class II patients and to find which dentoalveolar parameter compensates the most for this sagittal jaw discrepancy. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Dental Section, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2005 to March 2006. METHODOLOGY: Cephalometric analyses were performed on pretreatment lateral cephalographs of 87 orthodontic patients who met the selection criteria. Various linear and angular measurements were taken. For a quantitative evaluation of dentoalveolar compensation, association was found between various dental and skeletal parameters by correlation analyses. To evaluate which parameter compensates the most, regression and scatters were performed keeping ANB angle as a measure of sagittal jaw discrepancy versus some parameters (SN-OP, A-NP, UI-NA, IIA, LI-OP, LI-SN, LI-FH, LI-MP). RESULTS: Statistically significant associations were seen between some skeletal and dental parameters. Correlation and regression analyses indicated SN-OP, LI-OP and LI-FH to be the most likely parameters to compensate for underlying sagittal jaw discrepancies. CONCLUSION: Lower incisor position and occlusal plane inclination in relation to the craniofacial structures are the most likely parameters for compensation in class II sagittal jaw discrepancy, evaluation of which may be helpful in treatment planning and treatment success.