Dentoskeletal and soft tissue effects of mini-implants in Class II division 1 patients.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue treatment effects of retraction of maxillary anterior teeth with mini-implant anchorage in nongrowing Class II division 1 female patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Twenty-three patients (overjet > or =7 mm) were selected on the basis of predefined selection criteria. Treatment mechanics consisted of retraction of anterior teeth by placing mini-implants in the interdental bone between the roots of the maxillary first molar and second premolar. A force of 150 g was applied, bilaterally. Treatment effects were analyzed by taking lateral cephalograms and study casts at T1 (before initiation of retraction) and at T2 (after complete space closure).

RESULTS

The upper anterior teeth showed significant retraction (5.18 +/- 2.74 mm) and intrusion (1.32 +/- 1.08 mm). The upper first molar also showed some distal movement and intrusion, but this was not significant (P > .05). The upper and lower lips were retracted by 2.41 mm and 2.73 mm, respectively, and the convexity angle reduced by over 2 degrees (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Mini-implants provided absolute anchorage to bring about significant dental and soft tissue changes in moderate to severe Class II division 1 patients and can be considered as possible alternatives to orthognathic surgery in select cases.