Comparison of class III treatment using intermaxillary elastics and buccal shelf miniscrews

This retrospective study aimed to compare the treatment effects of extra-alveolar skeletal anchorage versus intermaxillary elastics in Class III patients.

Thirty-eight patients were divided into three groups based on their treatment approach. Group Buccal Shelf (BS) consisted of 10 patients treated with a fixed orthodontic appliance and buccal shelf miniscrews (initial mean age: 21.44 years; mean treatment time: 2.81 years). Group Elastics Torque (ET) comprised 14 patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliance (lower incisors with buccal torque, and upper incisors with torque zero) and intermaxillary elastics (initial mean age: 18.97 years; mean treatment time: 3.12 years). Group Elastics (E): 14 patients treated with a fixed orthodontic appliance (lower incisors torque zero, and upper incisors with buccal torque) and intermaxillary elastics (mean initial age: 19.18 years; mean treatment time: 3.15 years). Cephalograms were taken before and after orthodontic treatment. Dental, skeletal, and soft tissue changes were compared using ANOVA and Tukey tests.

Maxillary molars exhibited significantly greater mesial angulation in Group ET compared with Groups BS and E (P = 0.02). Mandibular incisors were significantly more upright (P = 0.03) and retruded (P = 0.00) in Group BS. Group ET showed significantly greater extrusion of the mandibular incisors (P = 0.00).

The use of buccal shelf miniscrews resulted in more upright and retruded mandibular incisors compared with treatment with Class III elastics. Intermaxillary elastics with buccal torque lower incisors and torque zero upper incisors brackets approach showed greater maxillary molar angulation and mandibular incisor extrusion.