Comparison of treatment effects between clear aligners and fixed appliances in patients treated with miniscrew-assisted molar distalization.

This study compares the treatment effects of clear aligners (CA) versus fixed appliances (FA) in patients undergoing miniscrew-assisted molar distalization for mild-to-moderate dental crowding. Both CA and FA groups achieved similar amounts of molar distalization (2–3 mm) with significant intrusion of upper molars; however, the CA group demonstrated significantly better control of vertical dimension, exhibiting less clockwise rotation of the occlusal and mandibular planes and reduced distal tipping of molars compared to the FA group. Both treatments resulted in significant retraction and lingual inclination of upper and lower incisors without significant differences between groups. The study’s limitations include reliance on two-dimensional cephalograms and a relatively small sample size, suggesting further research with three-dimensional imaging and larger cohorts is needed.