why is her mandible angle still so steep in the after? It looks like it's hardly changed. I thought Alfaro does aggressive CCW rotation? Shouldn't that make the mandible angles more perpendicular and the mandible rest on a flat plane?
Sorry Lazlo. But the way you ask your question sounds kind of retarded.
1: Perpendicularity or perpendicular to refers to the relationship between 2 LINES (or planes) that intersect at a 90 degree angle. The angle itself is called either a 90 degree angle or a right angle. Angles themselves don't become 'more perpendicular' by rotating them. They remain the same angles.
2: If you're referring to a 90 degree angle, not all 90 degree angles 'rest on a flat plane' because not all 90 degree angles are formed by one line being parallel to a vertical plane intersecting with another that is parallel to the horizontal plane. 90 degree angles can also be formed by one line being (for example) 'X' degrees CW away from the vertical plane and the the other line being 'X' degrees CW away from the horizontal plane, in which case they won't be resting on a flat plane but angled (or rotated CW) 'X' degrees away from a flat plane. Only 90 degree angles formed by the intersection of one line being parallel to the vertical plane and the other line being parallel to the horizontal plane will 'rest on a flat plane'
3: The 'mandible angle'--the angle of the mandible or gonial angle-- is the angle formed by the posterior border of the ramus and the inferior border of body of the mandible.
It's NOT the same thing as the mandibular PLANE angle, the part of the lower jaw that can look STEEP. The MPA is (basically) the angle of inclination the inferior border of the mandibular body has away from a horizontal plane. The MPA is DIFFERENT angle from the angle of the mandible (gonial angle or 'mandible angle').
A ROTATION does NOT change the angle of the mandible. Angle of mandible stays the SAME. What changes, via rotation (coming from the maxilla), is the angle of INCLINATION the inferior border of the body of the mandible has with a horizontal plane. Angle of mandible and Mandibular Plane Angle (MPA) are 2 different angles.
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The question: 'Why is her mandible [PLANE] angle still steep' resolves to ASSUMING that 'just because he does aggressive CCW', he did so on that patient.
The description does NOT say WHAT KIND of rotation she had. But it does give a CLUE that it was most likely NOT 'aggressive CCW'. The clue is that it says she had OPEN BITE (most likely anterior open bite) which is often treated by removing a wedge section from the posterior maxilla which is CW. There is NOTHING in the description of what she had that gives rise to assuming she had CCW, yet alone 'aggressive CCW'.
So, here's some questions for YOU:
Are you assuming that just because a doctor can do aggressive CCW rotation, that can be done in ALL patients?
If 'Yes', then FAULTY ASSUMPTION
Why are you assuming that just because he does aggressive CCW rotation, he DID so in THAT patient?
Why AREN'T you assuming that because her MPA is still steep (or as steep as prior) he DIDN'T do 'aggressive CCW' on her?