ObjectivesThe purpose of this multicenter retrospective study was to perform a two-dimensional analysis of upper airway changes in adolescent patients following molar distalization with the Pendulum appliance.Materials and methodsThe study involved the cephalometric analysis of 88 patients, retrospectively categorized into two groups: skeletal Class II with a dental Class II molar relationship (36 patients, mean age 12.6 ± 1.1 years) and skeletal Class I with a dental Class II molar relationship (54 patients, mean age 12.3 ± 1.2 years). Changes were observed using lateral radiographs before (T0) and after Pendulum appliance removal (T1); treatment time averaged 7 months. Upper airways were subsequently analyzed by tracing lateral radiographs. The Shapiro-Wilk test showed a normal distribution of the data, therefore parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. Intragroup changes between T0 and T1 were evaluated using paired t-tests, and intergroup differences were assessed using independent student t-tests; statistical significance was set at 0.05.ResultsStatistically significant differences were observed in the skeletal measurements that characterized both groups, particularly in ANB and Wits appraisal, at T0 (P < 0.001). After molar distalization, Class I and Class II groups reported no statistically significant differences with changes almost equal to zero between timepoints (P > 0.05). Additionally, intergroup comparisons of airway changes at T1 did not show statistically significant differences (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe Pendulum appliance does not significantly change the upper airway dimensions in Class I and Class II malocclusion patients, thereby minimizing potential respiratory risks.
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