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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
Efficacy of mandibular molar distalization by clear aligner treatment
Dongxue Wu1, Yunshan Zhao2, Meng Ma2
1First Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016. 382213261@qq.com.
Objectives:
At present, the research on clear aligner of molar distalization mainly focuses on the upper jaw, while the research on mandibular molars is few.This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of mandibular molars distalization with clear aligner via cone beam CT (CBCT) and Dolphin software.
Methods:
Twenty cases of mandibular molars with clear aligner were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. CBCT was taken before treatment (T0) and when the first molar was moved in place (T1). Dolphin software was used to measure the effectiveness of molar distalization. Three-dimensional changes in direction and the impact on the incisors and facial soft and hard tissues were evaluated.
Results:
The effective rates of crown and root distalization of the second and first mandibular molars were 74%, 49%, and 71%, 47%, respectively. The second and first molars were both the distal buccal cusp with the largest distalization [(2.15 ± 0.91) mm and (1.85±1.09) mm], respectively, with significant difference between the T0 and T1 (P<0.05). The second and first molars were accompanied by depression, distal tilt, and buccal tilt with 1.06 mm, 2.10°, 2.27°, and 0.91 mm, 1.62°, and 1.91°, respectively, with significant differences between the T0 and T1 (all P<0.05). There was no obvious difference between men and women. The mandibular central incisor showed a lip-side movement of 1.02 mm, a depression of 0.82 mm, a mesial incline of 0.66°, and a crown-lip torque of 1.51° after molar distalization, with significant differences between the T0 and T1 (all P<0.001). Only the lower lip thickness increased by 0.1 cm, the length of the lower lip increased by 0.1 cm, and the ANS-ME (distance from anterior nasal spine to submental point) decreased by 0.13 cm, with significant differences between the T0 and T1 (all P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Clear aligner can effectively move mandibular molars farther, the crown is more effective than the root, and it is tilted. The second mandibular molar is more effective than the first mandibular molar in its distant displacement and three-dimensional changes. Molar distalization causes minor changes in mandibular incisors and facial soft and hard tissues.
