Timing of Orthodontic Intervention for Pediatric Class II Malocclusion: A Systematic Review on Early vs. Late Treatment Outcomes.
Highlights: What are the main findings? Early orthodontic intervention significantly improves skeletal development, arch dimensions, and airway space in patients with Class II malocclusion. Statistically significant differences favor early treatment in parameters such as gonial angle, maxillary widt...
| Published in: | Children Vol. 12; no. 11; pp. 1533 - 1551 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
MDPI
Nov2025
|
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=189652566&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 189652566 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 22279067 LW6K jtl: Children issn: 22279067 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Nov2025 vid: 12 iid: 11 pid: 97109 pub: MDPI artinfo: ui: 189652566 189652566 189652566 10.3390/children12111533 189652566 ppf: 1533 ppct: 18 formats: tig: atl: Timing of Orthodontic Intervention for Pediatric Class II Malocclusion: A Systematic Review on Early vs. Late Treatment Outcomes. aug: au: Dinu, Stefania Igna, Andreea Petrescu, Emanuela Lidia Braila, Emilia Brandusa Dinu, Dorin Cristian Horhat, Razvan Mihai Mihai, Cristina Traila, Iuliana-Anamaria Nica, Diana Florina Popa, Malina affil: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 9 No. Revolutiei 1989 Bv. 300041 Timisoara, Romania sug: subj: Orthodontics Time Malocclusion Therapy Malocclusion Therapy Treatment Outcomes Early Intervention Treatment Delay Human Male Female Child Adolescence Child Development Adolescent Development Maxilla Mandible Dental Arch Anatomy and Histology Dental Occlusion Respiratory System Anatomy and Histology Head Protective Devices Growth Tooth Eruption PubMed Orthodontic Appliances Masks Anthropometry Patient-Reported Outcomes Tooth Extraction Models, Structural Radiography, Panoramic Unpaired T-Tests Mann-Whitney U Test Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis Software Checklists Child: 6-12 years Adolescent: 13-18 years Male Female ab: Highlights: What are the main findings? Early orthodontic intervention significantly improves skeletal development, arch dimensions, and airway space in patients with Class II malocclusion. Statistically significant differences favor early treatment in parameters such as gonial angle, maxillary width, and dental arch length. What are the implications of the main finding? Timely application of growth-modifying appliances enhances treatment outcomes and may reduce the need for extractions or prolonged fixed appliance therapy. Individualized treatment timing, particularly favoring early intervention in selected cases, should be integrated into evidence-based planning for orthodontic treatment in pediatric patients. Background/Objectives: The optimal timing for orthodontic treatment in pediatric patients with malocclusion, particularly Class II discrepancies, remains a topic of ongoing clinical debate. Early treatment during the mixed dentition stage harnesses craniofacial growth potential, whereas later intervention may capitalize on pubertal growth for greater skeletal correction, especially for skeletal and airway improvements. This systematic review aimed to compare the outcomes of early versus late orthodontic treatment to assess their relative effectiveness. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, including randomized controlled trials and observational studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eleven studies comparing early and late treatment were analyzed, and the risk of bias was evaluated using standardized assessment tools. Results: Of the eleven studies, eight reported statistically significant improvements favoring early orthodontic intervention. Early treatment was associated with greater enhancement of maxillary and mandibular arch development, improved jaw relationships, and expanded airway dimensions. Studies utilizing headgear or other growth-modifying appliances also showed more favorable eruption patterns and alignment, underscoring the clinical relevance of early-phase management. Conclusions: Early orthodontic treatment can provide meaningful benefits in guiding skeletal growth, improving dental arch form, and enhancing treatment efficiency. These benefits were most consistently supported in skeletal and airway outcome domains. While late treatment may be suitable for some cases, personalized planning remains essential. Further large-scale, standardized longitudinal studies are needed to refine treatment-timing protocols in pediatric orthodontics. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
|---|