Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound-Assisted Scoliosis-Specific Exercise in Mild-Grade Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Published on: December 2, 2025
Functional Unit-Based Analysis Unveils the Skeletal Mandibular Effects of Class II Elastics Therapy in Adolescents
Ehab A Abdulghani1,2, Li Mei3, Abeer A Al-Sosowa4,5
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Background:
This study sought to thoroughly assess the skeletal impacts of Class II elastics therapy on the developing mandible, highlighting three-dimensional changes in its functional units.
Methods:
Treatment records of 140 CBCT scans from 70 adolescent patients were retrospectively collected and assigned to one of two groups: the Class II elastics group (n = 35), in which class II elastics were performed on the stainless steel archwires for more than 12 months, and the control group (n = 35). Pre- and post-treatment cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were used to assess changes related to the skeletal facial pattern, functional units, and transverse parameters. An independent t-test was used to compare between the two groups.
Results:
In the Class II elastics group, the mandibular body unit length (IAF-MF) increased by 3.09 ± 3.16 mm from pre- to post-treatment, significantly larger than that in the control group (1.37 ± 3.14 mm). No other mandibular functional unit or transverse parameters demonstrated significant differences between the two groups.
Conclusions:
Based on the single-center sample included in this study, the adolescent group receiving prolonged Class II elastics may have exhibited a greater increase in mandibular body unit length compared to the group with minimal elastic use. However, these findings cannot be generalized without further validation.
