Maxillary first molar rotation and its relationship with skeletal and occlusal discrepancies

Abstract

Introduction: Permanent maxillary first molar rotation has important implications in static occlusion as far as the molar relationship is concerned. Hence the objective of present study was to determine permanent maxillary first molar rotation and its relationship with different skeletal and occlusal discrepancies.

Material and Methods: Cephalometric radiographs and maxillary casts of fifty patients (containing permanent maxillary first molar rotation) were randomly selected. Photographs of maxillary plaster casts were taken with Olympus e410 DSLR camera. Photos were imported into View box ^TM version 4 software, where both maxillary first molar rotation angles were measured by buccal surface angulation with mid-sagittal plane. Arch length discrepancy, overjet, maxillo-mandibular plane and ANB angles were also measured.

Results: Molar rotation was more on the right side as compared to the left side. Insignificant correlations among most of the variables except for upper left and right molar rotations were observed. There was moderate negative correlation found between ANB and both the angles measured.

Conclusions: Molar rotation was more on the right side as compared to the left and in class III cases. No factors were found to be well correlated except for molar rotation on the opposing side.