ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the early results of gingival recession in patients with Class II malocclusion treated with Class II intermaxillary elastics and the Twin Force appliance. METHODS: The sample comprised 55 patients with Class II malocclusion treated without extraction and divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients treated with fixed appliances and Class II elastics, with mean initial age of 15.41 ± 5.65 years and a mean treatment time of 3.11 ± 0.91 years. Group 2 consisted of 32 patients treated with fixed appliances and the Twin Force mandibular protraction appliance, with a mean initial age of 18.45 ± 6.63 years and a mean treatment time of 3.17 ± 1.59 years. Dolphin software measured gingival recession in initial and final intraoral photographs. Initial and final lateral cephalograms were used to measure the position of the mandibular incisors. Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were performed by dependent and independent t tests, respectively. RESULTS: In both groups, there was no significant increase in gingival recession with orthodontic treatment, and there was significant protrusion and buccal inclination of the mandibular incisors. When changes with treatment were compared between the groups, there was no statistically significant difference in gingival recession and mandibular incisor position. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant increase in gingival recession immediately after orthodontic treatment performed with intermaxillary elastics and the Twin Force appliance.