Molar distalization with a pendulum appliance K-loop combination.

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar effects of a pendulum appliance supported buccally by a K-loop, and to compare these with a cervical headgear (CHG) group. The records of 30 patients with skeletal Class I and dental Class II malocclusions were divided in to two groups: Patients in group 1 (seven females and eight males; mean age, 15.0 +/- 3.4 years) were treated with a pendulum appliance supported with a K-loop buccally, while in group 2 (10 females and 5 males; mean age, 14.2 +/- 2.9 years), the patients were treated with CHG. Standardized lateral cephalograms and study models were taken at the beginning of treatment (T0) and at the end of distal molar movement (T1). T0-T1 changes within the groups were analysed with a paired t-test, and between the groups with a t-test. The mean amount of distalization was 4.53 +/- 1.46 mm in group 1 and 2.23 +/- 1.68 mm in group 2. The mean amount of distal tipping for group 1 was 5.13 +/- 4.90 degrees; the mean amount of mesial tipping for group 2 was 0.80 +/- 2.27 degrees. Intrusion and mesiobuccal rotation of the maxillary molars were achieved in both groups. In group 1, the amount of labial protrusion and tipping of the maxillary incisors was not statistically significant. In group 2, palatoversion and retrusion of the maxillary incisors was statistically significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The two major disadvantages of intraoral appliances, which are distal tipping of molars and loss of anchorage at the anterior teeth, were significantly decreased with the use of a pendulum appliance K-loop combination.