Comparison of early Class II light elastics and PowerScope 2 in mild Class II Division 2 malocclusion: a retrospective clinical study

BACKGROUND: The objective was to compare the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue effects of early Class II light elastics and PowerScope appliance used with self-ligating brackets in Class II Division 2 patients. METHODS: Thirty-one Class II Division 2 patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (N = 16, mean age:15.06 ± 1.77 years) was treated with the Damon 3MX self-ligating system and early Class II light elastics. Group 2 (N = 15, mean age:15.87 ± 1.30 years) received Empower self-ligating brackets combined with PowerScope fixed functional appliance (FFA). Lateral cephalograms were taken before treatment (T0) and after achieving a Class I molar relationship (T1). Surveys assessing comfort and pain were analyzed at the beginning and after six months. RESULTS: Group 2 exhibited a significantly greater change in SNB° compared to Group 1, while increases in vertical skeletal measurements were greater in Group 1 (p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited maxillary and mandibular incisor protrusion with no significant difference. Lower molar extrusion (L6-H) was greater in Group 1 (2.77 ± 2.87 vs1.14 ± 1.77 mm, p = 0.038), whereas only Group 2 showed significant lower incisor intrusion (p = 0.002). Patients in the early elastic group generally reported better experiences with comfort-related situations. Pain levels at the 4th and 24th hours were significantly higher in Group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early light elastics and FFA were effective in normalizing Class II division 2 and corrected the molar relationship at the same time. Both treatment modalities demonstrated comparable dentoalveolar effects, except for the extrusion of lower molars and the intrusion of lower incisors. Patient comfort was better in the elastic group than in the FFA group.