The Effect of Pendulum Device in Growing Patient: Effective or Overtreat? - A Case Report

Molar distalization is a method to treat Angel class Ⅱ malocclusion. A case report of molar distalization using noncompliant pendulum appliance was presented. The patient was a 12 year-old boy who was a case of Angle Class Ⅱ malocclusion with space deficiency and excessive overjet. He was treated with banded type pendulum appliance to distalize the maxillary molars. The molars were disltalized by 7mm in five months. The maxillary incisors also moved forward. Distally tipping of the maxillary molars and labially tipping of maxillary incisors were found. After the treatment was completed, the patient achieved Angle Class Ⅰ occlusion, reduced overjet, and improved facial esthetics. Although the final result was satisfactory, it showed that the maxillary molar was distalized for only 0.1mm.The improvement was not owing to molar distalization but from the changes of dental arch and the growth offacial bone. Pendulum device is effective in maxillary molar distalization, but it should be carefully guarded when using it in treating class Ⅱ growing patient in order to prevent overtreatment.