Comparison of Maxillary Molar Distalization with an Implant-Supported Distal Jet and a Traditional Tooth-Supported Distal Jet Appliance

Abstract EN

Aim.

To investigate and compare the efficiency of two appliances for molar distalization: the bone-anchored distal screw (DS) and the traditional tooth-supported distal jet (DJ) for molar distalization and anchorage loss.

Methods.

Tests (18 subjects) were treated with a DS and controls (18 subjects) were treated with a DJ.

Lateral cephalograms were obtained before and at the end of molar distalization and were analysed.

Shapiro Wilk test, unpaired t-test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were applied according to values distribution.

The α level was fixed at 0.05.

Results.

Maxillary first molars were successfully distalized into a Class I relationship in all patients.

The mean molar distalization and treatment time were similar in both groups.

The DS group exhibited a spontaneous distalization (2.1±0.9 mm) of the first premolar with control of anchorage loss, distal tipping, extrusion, and skeletal changes.

Conclusions.

The DS is an adequate compliance-free distalizing appliance that can be used safely for the correction of Class II malocclusions.

In comparison to the traditional DJ, the DS enables not only a good rate of molar distalization, but also a spontaneous distalization of the first premolars.