PURPOSE: This retrospective study assessed patients treated with extraction of premolars by analysis of lateral cephalograms, comparing the effect of different tooth extraction protocols on the profile. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients were selected from the private practices of three orthodontists certified by the Brazilian Board of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics. These patients were treated with fixed edgewise appliances and divided into three groups according to the sequence in which premolars were extracted: "Group 40", maxillary first premolars (22 patients); "Group 44", both maxillary and mandibular first premolars (43 patients); and "Group 45", maxillary first and mandibular second premolars (22 patients). The Z angle and the Burstone line were used to quantify and compare the profiles before and after treatment. RESULTS: Student's t-test showed profile improvement in all groups, as the Z angle value was higher at treatment completion and the lip measurements were in agreement with the values recommended by Burstone. Analysis of treatment changes by the ANOVA did not reveal significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: The protocols produced similar facial appearance at treatment completion.
Dental extraction; premolar tooth; corrective orthodontics
