Superior effect of mini-implant anchorage in the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusion.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of mini-implant (MI) anchorage versus conventional anchorage for the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusion.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 64 patients with skeletal class II malocclusion. The patients were divided into two groups: 1) 32 patients underwent conventional anchorage, and 2) 32 patients underwent MI anchorage. Cephalometric radiographs were taken pre-treatment, and the data were compared with post-treatment measurements.

Results: The age and gender distribution between the conventional and MI anchorage groups was similar, and the differences were statistically significant. The SNA and SNB angles post-treatment were reduced compared to pre-treatment measurements in both groups. The MI anchorage demonstrated a superior subsidence effect, reducing the level of forward displacement of the first molars in the maxilla. The MI group also exhibited less extrusion of the molars compared to the conventional group. In skeletal class II cases, especially in patients with a high mandibular angle using MI anchorage helped prevent the mandible from rotating counterclockwise, thus improving aesthetics rather than worsening them after treatment. In 75% of the cases in the MI anchorage group, the outcome was assessed as "greatly improved" based on the PAR index.

Conclusions: MI anchorage was more effective than conventional anchorage. It allows for greater posterior movement and intrusion of the maxillary incisors while maintaining or rotating the mandibular plane counterclockwise.