SynthesisProgress in orthodontics2025
Soft tissue changes associated with Class III orthopaedic treatment in growing patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Progress in orthodontics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of adjunctive interventions in patients undergoing rapid maxillary expansion: An umbrella review.The Journal of international medical research · 2026Pooled it
- Review
- Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Hard and Soft Tissue in Class III Malocclusion Before and Near-End Orthodontic Treatment.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Preliminary orthodontic insights into facial soft tissue thickness measurements using semi-automated cephalometric analysis in a Cambodian cohort.Frontiers in dental medicine · 2025Article
- Bone-anchored maxillary protraction versus conventional orthopedic treatment for Class III malocclusion in children under 12 years: A systematic review.Journal of orthodontic science · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionAchieving a harmonious soft tissue profile and enhancing facial appearance are key goals of early treatment for skeletal class III malocclusion.
aimTo summarize the current evidence regarding the effects of Class III orthodontic treatment on facial soft tissues, and to compare various Class III orthodontic appliances.
methodsA comprehensive search was conducted up to July 2024, using seven databases, with no language restrictions. RCTs and controlled non-randomized studies were included in this systematic review. The GRADE framework was applied to evaluate the quality of evidence.
resultsThirty studies were included in this review, of which sixteen were appropriate for quantitative synthesis. The age range fell between 6.6 and 12.3 years. The FM/RME protocol resulted in a 1.58 mm increase in upper lip protrusion and a 4.73-degree decrease in the nasolabial angle compared to the control group. Chincup treatment led to a 2.13 mm increase in upper lip protrusion and a 2.63 mm decrease in lower lip protrusion compared to the control group. The pooled estimate demonstrated a significant increase of 1.82 mm in upper lip protrusion, a significant retrusion of 3.14 mm in the lower lip, and a backward movement of the chin by 4.8 mm in patients treated with miniplate-anchored orthopaedic facemask (FM/MP) compared to the untreated group. However, no significant difference was found between FM/RME and FM/MP, except for a noticeable decrease in the nasolabial angle in the FM/RME group. The analysis of FM/Alt-RAMEC versus FM/RME did not reveal any difference in soft tissue outcomes, except for the upper lip protrusion. The Alt-RAMEC group showed a more pronounced anterior movement of the upper lip by 0.67 mm compared to the RME group. The quality of evidence supporting these findings ranged from low to moderate.
conclusionsThere is low to moderate evidence suggesting that early treatment positively influences the soft tissues in Class III patients. However, these conclusions are based on a two-dimensional analysis of cephalometric images, which may not provide complete or accurate information. Therefore, more RCTs using comprehensive 3D analysis are needed to confirm these results. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO ( CRD42024517924 ).
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