Short-term effects of fiberotomy on relapse of anterior crowding

The effects of fiberotomy were evaluated in alleviating dental relapse of i ncisors after orthodontic treatment. The study sample consisted of 23 patie nts with crowded maxillary and mandibular incisors before orthodontic treat ment. The amount of initial crowding was determined according to Little's i rregularity index. Fiberotomy procedures were performed on ii of the patien ts 1 week before debonding, The other 12 subjects served as the control gro up. All patients wore Hawley retainers. Lateral cephalometric headfilms and dental casts of the patients were taken at the beginning (T1) and at the e nd (T2) of treatment, 6 months into the retention phase (T3), and 1 year af ter orthodontic treatment (T4). Significant increase of irregularity index was noted in the control group at T3 and T4 for both maxillary and mandibul ar anterior segments (P < .05, P < .01). Meanwhile, in the group where circ umferential supracrestal fiberotomy was performed, no significant increase of the irregularity index was noted.