Effectiveness and magnitude of sequential molar distalization with aligners: a systematic review
Abstract
Introduction: Molar distalization has emerged in the last years as a viable alternative for treating mild to moderate sagittal discrepancies without extractions. Aligners enable this process through sequential movement with reported effectiveness. Objetive: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and magnitude of sequential molar distalization using aligners.
Material and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted from January 2013 to July 2024 to identify potentially relevant English-language articles addressing the research question. Databases searched included PubMed, EBSCO, and Scopus. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of included studies; discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. The ROBINS-I tool was used for risk of bias analysis in non-randomized intervention studies due to the characteristics of the included studies.
Results: Thirteen studies were included: eight retrospective, four prospective, and one finite element simulation. Four studies demonstrated high risk of bias, and nine moderate. Variability in the effectiveness of maxillary molar distalization was observed, ranging from 35.4 to 88.4%, with a magnitude between 0.91 and 2.7 mm.
Conclusions: Despite the methodological limitations, findings suggest that molar distalization with aligners is a viable treatment option for malocclusions, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment planning. Clinically, it underscores the importance of aligning treatment goals with individual characteristics.
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