PURPOSE: This retrospective study aimed at assessing patients treated with extraction of premolars through cephalometry in lateral teleradiography, comparing the effect of different tooth extraction protocols on the facial profile. METHODS: For this study, 87 patients (31 boys and 56 girls) were selected from the private practices of three dentists certified by the Brazilian Board of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics. These patients were treated with fixed edgewise appliance and divided into three groups, according to the sequence in which premolars were extracted "Group 40" comprised 22 patients treated with extractions of the first two superior premolars, adopted as the control group; "Group 44" comprised 43 patients treated with extractions of the four first premolars; and "Group 45" comprised 22 patients treated with extractions of first superior premolars and second inferior premolars. The Holdaway analysis was used to quantify and compare the group profiles before and after treatment. RESULTS: Student's t-tests showed a profile improvement in all groups. When groups were compared, ANOVA showed that only the Inferior sulcus to the H line showed differences in incremental changes resulting from the treatment. Group 44 showed a significantly higher difference than Group 40. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the protocols produce similar facial appearances.
Dental extraction; premolar tooth; corrective orthodontics
