title: Comparison of maxillary molar distalization with an implant-supported distal jet and a traditional tooth-supported distal jet appliance.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Committee UOC Odontoiatria "G. Gaslini-Galliera" Hospital, Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Cagliari, Via Binaghi 4, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cozzani
authors.affiliation: Università di Pisa, Lungarno Pacinotti 43, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Università di Ferrarara, Via Montebello 31, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zallio
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Boston University, 100 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ritucci
authors.affiliation: Università di Cagliari, Via Binaghi 4, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mutinelli
authors.affiliation: Università di Cagliari, Via Binaghi 4, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, Medicine, Molecular and Critical Area, Università di Pisa, Lungarno Pacinotti 43, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giuca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Cagliari, Via Binaghi 4, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piras