Effect of intended manual condylar positioning on skeletal and dental changes in Skeletal Class III deformities: CBCT-generated Half-Cephalograms

IntroductionTo investigate the effect of intended manual condylar positioning on skeletal changes from preoperative stage to posttreatment stage.Materials and methodsThe sample comprised 23 patients divided into two groups according to surgery type: mandible-only setback surgery (group I) versus 2-jaw surgery (group II). CBCT-generated Half-Cephalograms were fabricated to evaluate the skeletal, dental, and condylar positioning changes for each subject at three time points (preoperatively (T0), immediate-postoperatively (T1), and posttreatment (T2)).ResultsThe angle of the proximal segment in group II was reduced immediate-postoperatively. In both groups, the result showed a negative mean value for the horizontal mandibular position (B point to N-perpendicular plane at T2-T1 stage). In group II, the vertical mandibular position (B point to FH plane at T2-T1 stage) also had a negative mean value. In group I, the change of the B point to N-perpendicular plane (T2-T1) had statistically significant correlations with the change of the Cd to Po-perpendicular plane (T2-T1). In group II, the change of the B point to the N-perpendicular plane (T2-T1) had statistically significant correlations with the change of the ∠Cd–Cp–FH plane angle (T2-T1) and the Cp to FH plane (T1-T0).ConclusionsIn this study, the change from the T1 to T2 stage, though not statistically significant, showed a negative short-term relapse. Intended manual condylar positioning may suppress the short-term skeletal relapse.