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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
A comparison of maxillary posterior changes following facemask therapy: Skeletal anchorage versus tooth-borne
Hyeon-Jong Lee1, Hannah Jeong1, Jae Hyun Park2,3
1Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South Korea.
Objective:
To compare changes in the maxillary posterior structure as seen in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images resulting from facemask therapy using skeletal (miniplate/FM) anchorage versus tooth-borne anchorage (RME/FM).
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted on 20 patients divided into the miniplate/FM group (nine patients aged 9.5 ± 1.4 years) and the RME/FM group (11 patients aged 9.2 ± 1.4 years). CBCT images before and after facemask therapy were evaluated to assess changes in the maxillary posterior structure.
Results:
The miniplate/FM group had greater advancement of the maxilla and midface compared to the RME/FM group (p < .05). Specifically, there was about three times more advancement of the pterygomaxillary suture in the miniplate/FM group than in the RME/FM group (p < .05). Moreover, the advancement of the pterygomaxillary suture was about half the advancement of A point in the miniplate/FM group, while only about 25% in the RME/FM group. Finally, the miniplate/FM group showed an increase in the transverse dimension of the posterior and superior parts of the maxilla (p < .05).
Conclusion:
There was greater forward movement of the pterygomaxillary suture with facemask therapy using the skeletal anchorage compared to tooth-borne anchorage, leading to a more significant advancement of the maxilla and midface.
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