Objectives:This study was concerned about evaluating the skeletal and dental effects of the IPC appliance used in distalization of maxillary first molars.
Materials and Methods:The sample was composed of 12 female patients. However, four of them discontinued the treatment due to different causes. As a result of this, the study was accomplished on 10 female patients, with their age ranged from 11-14 years. All patients had skeletal Class I, space deficiency in the upper arch less than 8 mm, and non-extraction lower arch. Distalization using the IPC appliance was started at the beginning of the treatment and continued until an overcorrected Class I molar relation was achieved. Lateral cephalometric radiographs and dental casts were obtained before and immediately after distalization, and statistical estimation of the variables measured on them were done.
Results:The first maxillary molars were distalized into an overcorrected Class I in a mean duration of 4.5 months. They were distalized significantly according to cephalometric measurements and dental cast measurements (5.5 ± 1.84 and 5.91 ± 3.3 mm respectively) (p < .05), with an insignificant distal tipping of 3.4 ° ± 7.97° and a significant increase in intermolar width by 9.34 ± 4.03 mm (p < .05). However, the vertical positions of the first maxillary molars were none significantly changed (p>.05), and rotations of these teeth were negligible (p>.05). Loss of anchorage was evidenced by the significant mesial movements of the first maxillary premolars. They were significantly extruded, rotated, and tipped mesially(p < .05). On the other hand, the interpremolar distance was significantly changed (3.95±3mm) Theoverjet was significantly increased and the overbite was significantly reduced. The skeletal changes sagitally and vertically were insignificant .
Conclusions:The IPC is an efficient noncompliance appliance to distalize molars without rotations. However, these movements are associated with distal molar tipping and anchorage loss of the anterior teeth.