Distalization With Aligners: Anchorage Options

February 3, 2025 updated by: Bezmialem Vakif University

Evaluation of the Dentoskeletal Effects of Maxillary Molar Distalization With Clear Aligners: Class II Elastic Anchorage vs. Miniscrew Anchorage

Background: To compare the dentoskeletal effects of Class II elastic anchorage and infrazygomatic crest (IZC) miniscrew anchorage in sequential maxillary molar distalization using clear aligners.

Methods: A total of 22 patients with Angle Class II malocclusion treated with clear aligners and maxillary molar distalization were included. Based on the anchorage method patients were divided into two groups: Class II elastics (Group 1) or IZC miniscrews (Group 2). Lateral cephalometric radiographs and digital models were obtained from all patients before treatment (T0) and after distalization of the second premolars (T1) to assess skeletal and dental changes. Geomagic Control X was used to superimpose the digital models.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The data for this study were obtained from patients who presented for treatment at the Department of Orthodontics at Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Dentistry. All patients were treated with clear aligners (Invisalign®, Align Technology, CA, USA) at Bezmialem University Hospital. Sequential distalization (50%) was planned in the maxillary arch. For each aligner, a staging of 0.25 mm was determined. Distalization starts with the second molars, then the first molars after half of the second molar movement is completed, and finally the premolars. In the ClinCheck planning, 3 or 4 mm vertical rectangular attachments were placed from the second molar to the canine and were bevelled mesially to enhance the distalization forces. The patients were divided into two groups, those who were treated with sequential distalization with aligners supported by Class II elastics (group 1) or IZC miniscrews (group 2). In group 1, with the beginning of the movement of the upper first molars, Class II intermaxillary elastics were used from precision cuts of the upper canines to the buttons on the lower first molars. In group 2, IZC miniscrews were inserted in the IZC region between the upper molars in both sides before first molar movement started. The same intramaxillary elastics were used from precision cuts of the upper canines to the IZC miniscrew. The use of intra/intermaxillary elastics was started with the initiation of upper first molar movement to prevent anchorage loss and maxillary incisor proclination. Both groups were instructed to wear the elastics and aligners a minimum of 22 hours per day using a 10-day aligner wear protocol. Maxillary third molars were extracted before treatment.

Patients were scanned by iTero 5D Element intraoral scanner and radiographs were taken before treatment (T0) and after distalization of the second premolar (T1).

Cephalometric radiographs were obtained from all patients and these radiographs were used for two-dimensional measurements.Digital tracing and measurements of the cephalometric radiographs were performed using NemoCeph version 6.0 software. Angular dental measurements were performed between the long axis of the teeth and the sella-nasion (S-N) plane using Image J software. The long axis was determined as a line through the incisal edge and the root apex for the incisors, through the buccal cusp tip and the root apex for the premolars, and through the centroid and the furcation for the molars. Digital models were exported from OrthoCAD software as stereolithography (STL) files and imported into Geomagic Control X software for three-dimensional (3D) model comparison. All digital models were superimposed using the local best fit algorithm. A reference area in the palatal region was used for the model superimposition and 50 iteration points were defined in this area for the superimpositions.

After model superimposition, reference points of the teeth were selected on the two models to enable linear measurements. These points were the mesiobuccal cusp tips of the maxillary molars and the buccal cusp tips of the premolars. These reference points were marked on the T0 and T1 models and measurements were taken to observe changes on all three axis. In linear measurements,

  1. X-axis represent buccolingual (transversal) differences (X+ in the buccal direction and X- in the palatal direction);
  2. Y-axis represent mesiodistal (sagittal) differences (Y+ in the distal direction and Y- in the mesial direction); and
  3. Z-axis represent vertical differences (Z+ indicating extrusion and Z- indicating intrusion).

For angular measurements, reference points and vectors were identified on 3D models. These points were the mesiobuccal and mesiopalatal cusp tips of the molars and the buccal and palatal cusp tips of the premolars. The angles between reference vectors were measured. Rotational movements were measured using the XY-axis, with positive values indicating mesiobuccal rotation and negative values indicating distobuccal rotation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

22

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • İstanbul, Turkey, 34307
        • Bezmialem Vakif University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

The inclusion criteria were as follows:

  1. Class II molar relationship,
  2. mild or moderate dental crowding on both arches,
  3. previous extraction or absence of the upper third molars,
  4. good compliance to orthodontic treatment,
  5. availability of initial and progress stereothography (STL) files of intraoral scans and lateral cephalometric radiographs.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria were

  1. severe dental crowding on both arches,
  2. Class II subdivision malocclusion,
  3. severe skeletal Class II malocclusion requiring orthognathic surgery,
  4. presence of impacted or supernumerary teeth,
  5. tooth extraction (except third molars),
  6. poor compliance to orthodontic treatment,
  7. craniofacial and dentofacial disorders, syndromes, or systemic diseases impacting bone metabolism or tooth movement.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Distalization with clear aligners supported by Class II elastics
Group 1: these patients were treated with sequential distalization with aligners supported by Class II elastics.
Sequential distalization (50%) with clear aligners was planned in the maxillary arch for each patient. ). In group 1, with the beginning of the movement of the upper first molars, Class II intermaxillary elastics were used from precision cuts of the upper canines to the buttons on the lower first molars for supporting distalization movement.
Active Comparator: Distalization with clear aligners supported by miniscrew
Group 2: these patients were treated with sequential distalization with aligners supported by IZC miniscrews.
Sequential distalization (50%) with clear aligners was planned in the maxillary arch for each patient. In group 2, IZC miniscrews were inserted in the IZC region between the upper molars in both sides before first molar movement started. The same intramaxillary elastics were used from precision cuts of the upper canines to the IZC miniscrew for supporting distalization movement.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluation of the Dentoskeletal Effects of Maxillary Molar Distalization with Clear Aligners: Class II Elastic Anchorage vs. Miniscrew Anchorage
Time Frame: Patients were collected and treatmets were started up to 9 months. At 12 weeks, miniscrews were inserted in group 2 and elastics were started to be used in each group. Final data were collected up to 20 months.

Lateral cephalometric radiographs and digital models were obtained from all patients before treatment and after distalization of the second premolars to assess skeletal and dental changes.

Digital tracing and measurements of the cephalometric radiographs were performed by the same investigator using NemoCeph software. Angular dental measurements were performed between the long axis of the teeth and the sella-nasion (S-N) plane using Image J software.

Geomagic Control X was used to superimpose the digital models and measurement of dental movements.

Patients were collected and treatmets were started up to 9 months. At 12 weeks, miniscrews were inserted in group 2 and elastics were started to be used in each group. Final data were collected up to 20 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Director: Ezgi Sunal Aktürk, Assistant professor, University of Health Sciences, Hamidiye Faculty of Dental Medicine, Department of Orthodontics
  • Principal Investigator: Ezgi Kösen, PhD student, Bezmialem Vakif University,Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Orthodontics,

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 30, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

December 26, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 27, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 4, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

October 8, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 3, 2025

Last Verified

February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

The data of this study belong to the PhD thesis and the thesis has not yet been defended.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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