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Not yet recruitingNCT07404696MACTWinUpdated Feb 11, 2026

Comparison of Early Interceptive Orthodontic Appliances (Traditional and Novel) and Later Fixed Appliance Treatment in Class II Malocclusion.

An interventional study of Head gear activator and Twin Block in Class II Malocclusion, Class II Malocclusion, Division 1 and Overjet, sponsored by Vastra Gotaland Region. Not yet recruiting at 3 sites in Sweden. Open to participants aged 9 Years to 13 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-11.

Sponsored by Vastra Gotaland Region · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
144
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
9 Years to 13 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Background Approximately 15% of children have a Class II malocclusion, where the maxilla is positioned anterior to the mandible, and around 90% of these children also present with an increased overjet. Increased overjet is associated with a higher risk of dental trauma and psychosocial consequences such as bullying and reduced oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Functional orthodontic appliances (e.g., headgear-activator and Twin-block) have long been used to reduce overjet through dentoalveolar effects and by influencing mandibular position and growth. More recently, digital solutions such as Invisalign's mandibular advancement appliance have been introduced, with potential advantages including improved wear time and simultaneous tooth alignment. However, there is currently limited evidence regarding treatment outcomes, patient experience, and cost-effectiveness of these newer appliances compared with established functional appliances.

Aim The primary aim is to compare treatment outcomes, patient experience, and cost-effectiveness of interceptive orthodontic treatment using three different appliances. The overall aim is to determine whether interceptive treatment of Class II malocclusion with large overjet is effective, and if so, which interceptive modality should be preferred.

Study design and setting

A total of 144 patients aged 9-13 years with Class II malocclusion and large overjet will be randomized into four groups:

  • Headgear-activator
  • Twin-block
  • Aligner Mandibular advancement
  • Control

Participants will be treated at four Orthodontic Specialist Clinics within the National Health Service in Region Halland and Västra Götaland, Sweden. Treatments will be provided by two experienced orthodontic specialists.

Follow-up and data collection

Clinical examinations will be performed at:

  • Baseline (T0)
  • 9 months into treatment (T1)
  • End of treatment (T2) Appliance checks will occur every 8 weeks. Digital scans of the occlusion will be collected at T0, T1, and T2. Lateral cephalometric radiographs will be taken at T0 and T2.

Outcomes and planned analyses

The trial will generate three studies with distinct outcomes:

  1. Treatment outcomes Primary outcome: dental treatment effectiveness measured as overjet reduction. Secondary outcomes: other dental variables, skeletal outcomes, and extraoral outcomes.
  2. Patient-reported outcomes

    All treated patients will complete two digital questionnaires:

    • Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ): assesses the child's perception of their teeth before and after treatment.
    • Orthodontic Treatment Impact Questionnaire (OTIQ): assesses the child's experience of orthodontic treatment and the appliance.

    These outcomes will be used to evaluate changes in OHRQoL from pre- to post-treatment and to compare experiences across treatment modalities.

  3. Cost-effectiveness analysis The economic evaluation will include direct, indirect, and societal costs. Treatment duration, number and length of appointments, and cancellations/no-shows will be recorded.

    • Direct costs: premises, staff salaries, materials, and laboratory costs.
    • Indirect costs: parental loss of income due to absence from work.
    • Societal costs: direct + indirect costs. Costs will be related to treatment outcomes to estimate cost-effectiveness across the treatment arms.

Additional comparison: early vs late treatment Furthermore, after completing 18 months the control group, and half of the functional appliance patients will receive treatment with fixed appliances. This enables an additional comparison of early interceptive treatment versus later treatment using the same outcomes: treatment effectiveness, patient-reported outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

02

Conditions studied

  • Class II Malocclusion
  • Class II Malocclusion, Division 1
  • Overjet
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
9 Years to 13 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Children age 9-13 years at the start of the trial
  • Mixed dentition, DS3M1
  • Excessive overjet ≥6 mm
  • First permanent molars in at least half cusp Cl II relation bilaterally
  • Incomplete lip closure

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Treatment needing extractions due to severe crowding
  • Earlier orthodontic treatment
  • Mouth breathing
  • Ongoing sucking habits
  • Syndromic patients
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
144 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Head gear activator

    Treatment with head gear activator orthodontic appliance.

    Device: Head gear activator

  • Experimental
    Twin Block

    Treatment with Twin Block appliance

    Device: Twin Block

  • Experimental
    Invisalign Mandibular Advancement

    Treatment with Invisalign mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks.

    Device: Invisalign mandibular advancement

  • Experimental
    Fixed appliance

    Participants will serve as an observation (no treatment) control group during the trial period for 18 months. After completion of the observation phase, they will receive orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Outcomes from this delayed intervention will be compared with the three early intervention groups.

    Device: Fixed appliance

Interventions

  • DeviceHead gear activator

    Activator with extra orala head gear traction

  • DeviceTwin Block

    Twin Block orthodontic appliance

  • DeviceInvisalign mandibular advancement

    Invisalign mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks

  • DeviceFixed appliance

    Fixed appliance in upper and lower jaw

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Part I: Dental treatment result: Overjet reduction

    Change in dental overjet compared to baseline. Unit: millimetres (mm). Direction of effect: Lower post-treatment overjet (i.e. greater reduction from baseline) indicates a better outcome; higher overjet values indicate a worse outcome.

    Time frame: 18 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Part I: Dental treatment result: Sagittal relation, overbite

    Sagittal relationship at the end of treatment, evaluated by both molar and canine relationships. Unit: millimetres (mm). Direction of effect: Change towards Class I in molar and canine relation compared with baseline is favorable.

    Time frame: 18 months

Other outcomes

  1. Part I: Basal treatment result

    Skeletal treatment outcomes will be evaluated as changes in SNA, SNB, ANB, NL/ML, Wits, Ils/NL, Ili/ML, Ils/NA, and Ili/NB between baseline and the end of treatment. The measurements will be obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs. Unit: degrees (°). Direction of effect: Non-linear; mid-range values are favourable, whereas both low and high values are clinically unfavourable.

    Time frame: 18 months

  2. Part I: Extra oral treatment result

    Changes in profile angle and lip closure from before start of the treatment and end of the treatment. The mesurements will be done on standardized photographs. Unit: degrees (°). Direction of effect: Non-linear; mid-range values are favourable, whereas both low and high values are clinically unfavourable.

    Time frame: 18 months

  3. Part II: Oral Health Related Quality of life (ORHQoL)

    Changes in OHRQoL from baseline compared to end of the treatment. Unit: OHRQoL score (higher = worse)

    Time frame: 18 months

  4. Part II: Patient experience of the orthodontic treatment

    The results of the Orthodontic Treatment Impact Questionnaire (OTIQ) will be compared across all groups to evaluate patient experience with the different orthodontic appliances. Score- higher scores reflect more negative impact of treatment

    Time frame: 18 months

  5. Part III: Direct costs

    The difference in direct costs between the different treatment alternatives. Unit: currency units per patient (e.g. EUR per completed treatment) Direction of effect: Lower values indicate lower direct costs (favourable).

    Time frame: 18 months

  6. Part III: Indirect costs

    The difference in indirect costs between the different treatment alternatives. Unit: currency units per patient (e.g. EUR per completed treatment) Direction of effect: Lower values indicate lower direct costs (favourable).

    Time frame: 18 months

  7. Part I: Societal costs

    The difference in societal costs between the treatment alternatives. Societal costs are defined as the sum of direct and indirect costs. Unit: currency units per patient (e.g. EUR per completed treatment) Direction of effect: Lower values indicate lower direct costs (favourable).

    Time frame: 18 months

06

Study locations

3 sites
  • Sahlgrenska Academy
    Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden
  • Orthodontic Specialist Clinic
    Halmstad, 30246, Sweden
  • Orthodontic Specialist Clinic
    Kungsbacka, 43441, Sweden
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — Charing individual patient data is not approved in the ethical approval.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07404696
Lead sponsor
Vastra Gotaland Region
Collaborators
Västra Götalandsregionen, Region Halland, Göteborg University
Responsible party
Anna Westerlund (Professor, Göteborg University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 11, 2026
Start date
Jan 15, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2031 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 1, 2031 (estimated)
Last update
Feb 11, 2026

Study contacts

Sara Waldenström, PhD student
Contact
sara.waldenstrom@regionhalland.se
+46768522129
Anna Westerlund, Professor
Contact
anna.westerlund@odontologi.gu.se
+46317866877
Anna Westerlund, Professor
principal investigator · Department of Orthodontics, Institution of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
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