Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41811371›Full record

ArticleProgress in orthodontics2026

Three-dimensional dynamic evaluation of facial soft tissue changes following anterior traction in growing Angle Class III malocclusion patients.

Jinyao Han, Qiang Li, Liying Wang, Jin Zhang, Boting Liu, Haoqiang Zhan, Jia Liu, Kun Qi

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Progress in orthodontics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jinyao Han *State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthondontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Qiang Li *State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of General Dentistry and Emergency, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Liying Wang *Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Jin ZhangState Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthondontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Boting LiuState Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthondontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Haoqiang ZhanState Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthondontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Jia LiuState Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthondontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. liujia_afmu@163.com.
Kun QiKey Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. qikun2000@sina.com.

Funding

the Key Project of the Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program 2025SF-YBXM-411the National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases LCA202202
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aesthetic improvement of the midface is a critical goal in treating growing children with Angle Class III malocclusion. While the skeletal effects of maxillary anterior traction are well-established, predicting the final aesthetic outcome requires a precise understanding of the accompanying three-dimensional (3D) soft tissue response. Current literature lacks detailed, dynamic quantification of these adaptive changes using high-precision methodology. This study aims to address this gap by employing dynamic stereophotogrammetry to sequentially analyze the 3D soft tissue kinematics associated with maxillary advancement.

methodsIn this study, the three-dimensional dynamic facial imaging system (3dMD) was employed to evaluate the effects of maxillary anterior traction treatment in 28 adolescents and children with Angle Class III malocclusion. Quantitative changes in facial root mean square (RMS) values and landmark displacements were compared across different treatment stages. Key measurements included RMS values at the initial (Ta), middle (Tb), and final (Tc) frames of four facial expression sequences (smile lips closed, smile lips open, lip purse, and cheek puff) along with the corresponding changes in anatomical landmark positions.

resultsAnalysis revealed that the RMS values for each sequence frame of facial dynamic expressions increased from baseline (pre-treatment) levels at both the 3-month follow-up (T1-T0) and the end of treatment (T2-T0). RMS values exhibited differential evolution across distinct phases of each facial expression. For the smile lips closed expression, the overall change did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.064). In contrast, the smile lips open expression exhibited statistically significant increases over the full treatment course (p = 0.015). More pronounced changes were observed in the lip purse and cheek puff expressions, both of which exhibited highly significant increases in RMS amplitude across the entire treatment period (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). With regards to landmark displacements, statistically significant anterior movements were observed for landmarks b, c, d, e, f and h, while landmark a exhibited a significant posterior displacement. In contrast, no significant positional changes were detected for landmarks i and j.

conclusionAnterior traction effectively improved the class III facial profile while dynamic 3D assessment revealed a non-linear adaptation pattern with enhanced midfacial convexity. These objective data are crucial for predicting outcomes in early-phase patient management.

Indexed as

FaceImaging, Three-DimensionalMalocclusion, Angle Class IIIAdolescentAnatomic LandmarksBiomechanical PhenomenaChildFacial ExpressionFemaleHumansLipMaleMaxillaPhotogrammetryAngle Class III malocclusionFacial aestheticsFacial soft tissueRoot mean square (RMS)Three-dimensional dynamic facial imaging system (3dMD)

Identifiers

PMID41811371
PMCPMC12979718

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.