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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
Effects of unilateral molar distalization with a modified pendulum appliance
Stefan F Schütze1, Tomas Gedrange, Markus R Zellmann
1Department of Orthodontics, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate skeletal and dentoalveolar changes due to unilateral distalization and to determine side effects.
Methods:
Cephalograms and dental casts before and after distal movement of the maxillary molars with pendulum appliances in 15 consecutively treated patients (5 girls and 10 boys, 12.06 +/- 1.32 years), were included in this study. The duration of distalization was 8.46 +/- 2.23 months.
Results:
Cephalometric analysis showed no remarkable growth between the 2 measurement times. The mean value for distalization of the first molars was 3.83 +/- 1.09 mm, with distal tipping of 6.45 degrees . The maxillary second molars were also moved distally 2.83 +/- 1.32 mm and tipped distally 14.7 degrees . No significant changes in the position of the third molars were measured. The mean reciprocal mesial movement of the premolars was 1.18 +/- 1.31 mm, with distal tipping of 1.94 degrees . The incisors moved 0.84 +/- 0.79 mm mesially, with mesial tipping of 0.02 degrees and extrusion of 1.21 mm. There was also a significant influence on the contralateral anchorage unit. However, unilateral distalization reduced incisor proclination and induced moderate distal movement of the contralateral anchorage unit based on rotation around a virtual axis perpendicular to the Nance button.
Conclusions:
Effective distal molar movement and less anchorage loss at the front teeth are advantages of unilateral distalization.