Class II Division 1 malocclusion treatment with extraction of maxillary first molars: Evaluation of treatment and post‐treatment changes by the PAR Index

OBJECTIVE To investigate occlusal result and post-treatment changes after orthodontic extraction of maxillary first permanent molars in patients with a Class II division 1 malocclusion. Setting and Sample Retrospective longitudinal study in a private practice, with outcome evaluation by an independent academic hospital. Ninety-six patients (53 males, 43 females) consecutively treated by one orthodontist with maxillary first permanent molar extraction were studied, divided into three facial types, based on pre-treatment cephalometric values: hypodivergent (n = 18), normodivergent (n = 21), and hyperdivergent (n = 57). METHODS Occlusal outcome was scored on dental casts at T1 (pre-treatment), T2 (post-treatment), and T3 (mean follow-up 2.5 ± 0.9 yr) using the weighted Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index. The paired sample t-test and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS PAR was reduced by 95.7% and 89.9% at T2 and T3, respectively, compared with the start of treatment. The largest post-treatment changes were found for overjet and buccal occlusion. Linear regression analysis did not reveal a clear effect (R-Square 0.074) of age, sex, PAR score at T1, incremental PAR score T2-T1, overjet and overbite at T1, and facial type on the changes after treatment (incremental PAR score T3-T2). CONCLUSIONS The occlusal outcome achieved after Class II division 1 treatment with maxillary first permanent molar extractions was maintained to a large extent over a mean post-treatment follow-up of 2.5 years. Limited changes after treatment were found, for which no risk factors could be discerned.