Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42460461›Full record

Trial reportActa odontologica Scandinavica2026

The effects of headgear treatment timing on costs and orthodontic outcome: a follow-up study.

Matti Hannula, Mimmi Tolvanen, Pertti Pirttiniemi, Kirsi Pirilä-Parkkinen, Anna-Sofia Silvola, Johanna Julku

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Acta odontologica Scandinavica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Matti HannulaResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. matti.hannula@oulu.fi.
Mimmi TolvanenNational Rescue Services College, Kuopio, Finland.
Pertti PirttiniemiResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Kirsi Pirilä-ParkkinenMedical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Anna-Sofia SilvolaResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Pirkanmaa Wellbeing Services County, Tampere, Finland.
Johanna JulkuResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo analyze the effects of cervical headgear (CHG) timing on costs and orthodontic outcome. MATERIAL AND

methodsSixty-seven participants with Class II malocclusion were randomized into two groups. In the early group (EG, n = 33), CHG treatment began after the eruption of first upper molars. In the later-timed group (LG, n = 34), CHG treatment began nearly 2 years later. Orthodontic outcome was evaluated when CHG ended and at the end of follow-up using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index and Little's Irregularity Index (LII). Costs were calculated using medical records, estimated chairside times and average personnel and material costs.

resultsThe mean total costs including personnel and material costs during the follow-up were higher in the EG (€416) compared with the LG (€364) (p = 0.043). No statistically significant differences between the groups were found in the PAR and in the LII scores at the end of follow-up. The number of visits during CHG treatment was higher in the EG (13.3) compared with the LG (10.4) (p = 0.01).

conclusionsEarlier initiation of CHG treatment increased the personnel and material costs, number of appointments, and chairside time. Based on the PAR and in the LII scores, the orthodontic outcome of CHG treatment was equal regardless of the timing of the treatment. If orthodontic treatment during mixed-dentition stage is considered, it would be justified from an economic perspective to favor treatment during late mixed-dentition.

Indexed as

Extraoral Traction AppliancesMalocclusion, Angle Class IIOrthodontics, CorrectiveChildFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleTime FactorsTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID42460461
PMCPMC13379765

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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.