Preoperative incisor inclination in patients with Class III dentofacial deformities treated with orthognathic surgery

Our aim was to evaluate cephalometrically the preoperative inclination of the incisors in a group of 50 patients with Class III dentofacial deformities whose immediate preoperative lateral cephalometric radiographs were analysed after they had been treated by maxillary advancement. The radiographs were hand-traced by the same operator who made the cephalometric analysis. Mean values for each measurement were compared with the normal values using Student's t-test (p < 0.05). Results showed significantly increased inclination of the upper incisors, with a mean U1-NA angle of 27.58° and a mean U1-PP angle of 116°. The lower incisors were also inclined lingually, with a mean L1-NB angle of 22.53° and a mean IMPA of 83.13°. Thirty-five of the patients had labial inclination of the upper, and 28 lingual inclination of the lower, incisors. Mean inclinations of upper and lower incisors differed from the normal values, and the inclination of the lower incisors was more likely to be decompensated than that of the upper incisors.