Effects of pendulum appliance on the anchor teeth and outcome

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the pendulum appliance on distal movement of maxillary molars and reciprocal effects on premolars and maxillary incisors before and after orthodontic treatment. Methods: The study was carried out on 12 patients. The pendulum appliance applying 200 to 250 g of force to the molars, followed by fixed orthodontic appliance therapy, mean age for the study group was 13.52±1.54 years. Dentally all the patients had Angle II molar relationship on both sides. The patients were in permanent dentition, second molars were erupted, and lateral cephalograms were taken and analyzed before and after the total treatment. Results: The cephalometric results of longitudinal assessment (initial to completion of orthodontic treatment) of 12 patients showed the following. Maxillary first molars were positioned distally by an average of 1.1 ± 1.4 mm, tipped distally 1.1 ± 2.2°, and intruded 0.4± 0.9 mm. The maxillary second molars were also positioned distally an average of 0.3 ± 0.9 mm, tipped distally 1.3 ± 1.4°, and intruded an average of 0.3 ± 0.8 mm after the total treatment. The mean reciprocal mesial movement of the first premolars was 0.3 ± 1.0mm, with a mesial tipping of 0.3 ± 1.5°and extrusion of 0.2 ± 0.6 mm. The maxillary incisors to SN angle increased by 2.2 ± 2.3 °, and extruded 0.8 ± 1.0mm. In terms of facial esthetics, the upper lip to Ricketts E-plane decreased by1.4 ± 2.2mm. The study showed insignifisant change in the craniofacial skeletal base.Conclusions: The pendulum appliance was an effective and reliable method for distalizing maxillary molars. It's major advantages were minimal dependence on patient compliance, ease of fabrication, adjustment of the springs if necessary to correct minor transverse and vertical molar positions and patient acceptance.