ClinicalTrials.gg
Enrolling by invitationNCT07752498Updated Aug 7, 2026

Long-term Stability of Treatment With the Twin Block Appliance

An observational study in Malocclusion, Angle Class II, Overbite (Excessive) Horizontal and Overbite (Excessive) Deep, sponsored by Region Jönköping County. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Sweden. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-07.

Sponsored by Region Jönköping County · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
72
Sex
All
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Study summary

The objective of this observational study is to investigate the long-term stability of treatment with the Twin block appliance in a patient group previously treated with a Twin block appliance. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Does treatment with the Twin block appliance give a lasting treatment result or does the bite relapse over time due to different factors such as short treatment time, compliance or the patient's natural growth pattern?
  2. How many patients that had received treatment with Twin block appliance required additional treatment with fixed appliances and for what reason?

Researchers will compare the patients present bite at (T2) by using study casts and cephalometric x-rays and compare this data with previous registrations made pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1). Additional factors, such as how much relapse a patient has on average, will also be investigated.

Read the detailed description

Orthodontic treatment during growth is called interceptive orthodontics. The objective is to affect the growth of the jaws and the position of the teeth with the assistance of a removable orthodontic appliance. One such appliance is the Twin block appliance, which is used to treat patients with an Angle class II malocclusion (Clark et al., 2022). The prevalence of Angle class II malocclusion is approximately 25% (Proffit et al., 2013).

There is however a lack of studies on the long term treatment stability of the Twin block appliance (Ehsani et al., 2015). Treatment with removable appliances also carry a great cost for both the individual, the parents and for society as a whole (Permert et al., 1998). The objective of the present study is to present guidelines concerning which patients that would benefit the most from treatment with Twin block appliance over time.

The present study will use a previous patient material consisting of 72 patients from the study by Frilund et al., (2023) "Patient compliance with Twin Block appliance during treatment of Class II malocclusion: a randomized controlled trial on two check-up prescriptions" to review the long term stability of treatment with Twin block appliance. These 72 patients were previously treated with a Twin block appliance. Their records will be reviewed to find patients who have had no additional orthodontic treament, and these patients will be asked to participate in the present study. If they accept, their present bite (T2) will be registered by study casts and with a cephalometric x-ray. This data (T2) will then be compared with their study casts and cephalometric data before treatment start (T0) and after treatment (T1). The main variables that will be investigated are overjet, overbite and molar relationship, as well as cephalometric values. The collected material will also be dichotomized into two groups, one with optimal current status with a neutral molar relation and a horizontal overjet of 4 mm or less, and one with a suboptimal current status presenting an angle class II molar relationship and/or an overjet greater that 4 mm.

The patients that recieved additional orthodontic treatment after their treatment with Twin block appliance will also be investigated to compare the reason for them having additional treatment and to investigate if the primary reason was relapse or other additional factors.

Statistical analysis of collected data will be perfofmed with the appropriate stastical models, depending on if the data has a normal distribution or not.

The study has recieved ethical approval from the ethical board at the University of Linköping, Dnr 2025-08312-02. All patients will have to give their informed consent to participate in the study by signing a consent form.

Results will be published in appropriate medical journals and at interdisciplinary conferences and lectures.

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Conditions studied

  • Malocclusion, Angle Class II
  • Overbite (Excessive) Horizontal
  • Overbite (Excessive) Deep
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Orthodontic Appliances, Removable

Keywords

  • Removable appliance
  • Twin Block
  • Long-term stability
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In context

Malocclusion, Angle Class II

124 studies on the registry are indexed under Malocclusion, Angle Class II; 19 are open to participants now.

Browse Malocclusion, Angle Class II studies →

Lead sponsor

Region Jönköping County is the lead sponsor of 16 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The patient cohort was originally recruited and treated from December 2018 to October 2020 The inclusion criteria for the previous study were healthy patients according to the American Society of Anaesthesiology Classification (ASA I and II), aged 8-14 years at treatment start and with an overjet of 6 mm or more together with an incomplete lip closure.

Exclusion criteria were severe chronic conditions such as asthma and allergy, neuropsychiatric disorders, craniofacial syndromes, and previous orthodontic treatment. Recruitment of the patients continued until the number of participants met the estimated sample size.

This patient group were then contacted again for recruitement to the present study during June 2026 to August 2026.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Patient participated in the previous study "Patient compliance with Twin Block appliance during treatment of Class II malocclusion: a randomized controlled trial on two check-up prescriptions" .Eur J Orthod. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/cjac046

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

None

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Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
72 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Long term follow-up without additional orthodontic treatment

    Patients that recieved treatment with Twin block, without having recieved additional treatment afterwards.

  • Long term follow-up with additional orthodontic treatment

    Patients that recieved treatment with Twin block and then also required additional treatment afterwards.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Difference in horisontal overjet

    The difference in horisontal overjet measured in millimeters at follow up (T2), compared with pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) values.

    Time frame: From enrollment (T0) to follow up (T2), about 6 years later.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Molar relationship

    Molar relationship at follow-up (T2), compared to molar relationship pre-(T0) and post-treatment (T1).

    Time frame: From enrollment (T0) to follow up (T2), about 6 years later.

  2. Overbite

    The difference in vertical overjet measured in millimeters at follow up (T2), compared with pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) values.

    Time frame: From enrollment (T0) to follow up (T2), about 6 years later.

  3. Cephalometric data

    Comparing cephalometric values of SNA, SNB and ANB pre- (T0), post-treatment (T1) and at follow-up (T2).

    Time frame: From enrollment (T0) to follow up (T2), about 6 years later.

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Study locations

1 site
  • The Institute of Postgraduate Dental Education
    Jönköping, Jönköping County 551 11, Sweden
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References and documents

Publications

  • Permert L, Karlander EL, Wilhelm E. Treatment of malocclusions in children and adolescents at a public dental service clinic in Sweden: extent and cost. Swed Dent J. 1998;22(5-6):187-93. PubMed 9974202 ↗
  • Cacciatore G, Ugolini A, Sforza C, Gbinigie O, Pluddemann A. Long-term effects of functional appliances in treated versus untreated patients with Class II malocclusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2019 Sep 6;14(9):e0221624. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221624. eCollection 2019. PubMed 31490945 ↗
  • Ehsani S, Nebbe B, Normando D, Lagravere MO, Flores-Mir C. Short-term treatment effects produced by the Twin-block appliance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Orthod. 2015 Apr;37(2):170-6. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cju030. Epub 2014 Jul 22. PubMed 25052373 ↗
  • O'Brien K, Wright J, Conboy F, Chadwick S, Connolly I, Cook P, Birnie D, Hammond M, Harradine N, Lewis D, McDade C, Mitchell L, Murray A, O'Neill J, Read M, Robinson S, Roberts-Harry D, Sandler J, Shaw I, Berk NW. Effectiveness of early orthodontic treatment with the Twin-block appliance: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Part 2: Psychosocial effects. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2003 Nov;124(5):488-94; discussion 494-5. doi: 10.1016/S0889540603006425. PubMed 14614414 ↗
  • Frilund E, Sonesson M, Magnusson A. Patient compliance with Twin Block appliance during treatment of Class II malocclusion: a randomized controlled trial on two check-up prescriptions. Eur J Orthod. 2023 Mar 31;45(2):142-149. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjac046. PubMed 35968672 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — Data collection is not yet complete.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Started Jul 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Aug 2026, 1 month after the start.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Aug 3, 2026
First posted
Aug 7, 2026
StartActual
Jul 10, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Aug 30, 2026
CompletionEst.
Dec 20, 2026
Last update
Aug 7, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 7, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07752498
Lead sponsor
Region Jönköping County
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 7, 2026
Start date
Jul 10, 2026
Primary completion
Aug 30, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 20, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 7, 2026

Study contacts

Anders Magnusson, Med dr.
principal investigator · Region Jönköping

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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