Dentoskeletal and soft tissue effects of mini-implants in Class II division 1 patients.

Objective: To examine the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue treatment effects of retraction of maxillary anterior teeth with mini-implant anchorage in nongrowing Class II division 1 female patients.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients (overjet > or =7 mm) were selected on the basis of predefined selection criteria. Treatment mechanics consisted of retraction of anterior teeth by placing mini-implants in the interdental bone between the roots of the maxillary first molar and second premolar. A force of 150 g was applied, bilaterally. Treatment effects were analyzed by taking lateral cephalograms and study casts at T1 (before initiation of retraction) and at T2 (after complete space closure).
Results: The upper anterior teeth showed significant retraction (5.18 +/- 2.74 mm) and intrusion (1.32 +/- 1.08 mm). The upper first molar also showed some distal movement and intrusion, but this was not significant (P > .05). The upper and lower lips were retracted by 2.41 mm and 2.73 mm, respectively, and the convexity angle reduced by over 2 degrees (P < .001).
Conclusion: Mini-implants provided absolute anchorage to bring about significant dental and soft tissue changes in moderate to severe Class II division 1 patients and can be considered as possible alternatives to orthognathic surgery in select cases.