# Long-Term CBCT Evaluation of Mandibular Third Molar Changes after Distalization in Adolescents
## 3 Results  
Table 2 shows the measurements of each posterior tooth's angulation, rotation, position, and width at predistalization, postdistalization, and posttentention in the treatment group. The mandibular first and second molars showed significant distal movement, of 2.3 and 1.7 mm (\(p<0.05\)), with distal crown tipping of 5.2\({}^{\circ}\) and 5.3\({}^{\circ}\) and extrusion of 1.3 and 0.6 mm, respectively, after total arch distalization. Notably, there were no significant changes in the distal tipping of the third molars (Figure 5). The mandibular first and second molars moved insignificantly mesially by 1.1 and 1.3 mm during the retention period. The first molars showed mesial tipping of 4.5\({}^{\circ}\) (\(p=0.001\)) (Table 3). Comparing the treated group with the control group post-retention, there were no significant differences in the positions of the first and second molars in either group. However, a significant difference was observed in the angulations of the third molars between the treated and control groups, which were 26.3\({}^{\circ}\) and 71.4\({}^{\circ}\), respectively (\(p<0.001\)) (Table 4). Regarding the vertical positions of the third molars, the treatment group showed a more downward position than the control group; the respective values were 19.7 mm and 22.7 mm, respectively (\(p=0.002\)). Furthermore, regarding the evaluation of the transverse position, the treated group had a more buccal position than the control group; the respective values were 39.0 mm versus 35.1 mm (\(p=0.001\)). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Predistalization**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Postdistalization**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Retention**} \\ \cline{2-7}  & **Mean** & **SD** & **Mean** & **SD** & **Mean** & **SD** \\ \hline Angulation (\({}^{\circ}\)) & & & & & & \\
6 angulation & 81.45 & 5.36 & 86.60 & 1.88 & 82.15 & 5.44 \\
7 angulation & 74.90 & 11.18 & 80.18 & 7.77 & 79.37 & 8.87 \\
8 angulation & 20.95 & 9.72 & 23.93 & 11.93 & 26.33 & 15.31 \\ Rotation (\({}^{\circ}\)) & & & & & & \\
6 rotation & 72.13 & 10.11 & 71.12 & 19.48 & 73.08 & 11.97 \\
7 rotation & 49.54 & 22.40 & 54.72 & 22.23 & 53.71 & 21.94 \\
8 rotation & 37.91 & 16.42 & 40.77 & 10.05 & 36.34 & 21.86 \\ Position (mm) & & & & & & \\
6 MB cusp to frontal plane(mm) & 31.13 & 2.21 & 33.4 & 2.61 & 32.25 & 2.52 \\
6 MB cusp to horizontal (mm) & 27.36 & 2.66 & 28.61 & 2.79 & 30.03 & 2.49 \\
6 MB cusp to midsagittal (mm) & 26.33 & 3.13 & 25.60 & 2.83 & 26.36 & 3.86 \\
7 MB cusp to frontal (mm) & 41.88 & 2.48 & 43.6 & 3.4 & 42.34 & 3.15 \\
7 MB cusp to horizontal (mm) & 24.95 & 2.90 & 25.58 & 3.20 & 27.61 & 3.14 \\
7 MB cusp to midsagittal (mm) & 29.26 & 4.43 & 28.62 & 2.71 & 29.28 & 5.11 \\
8 MB cusp to frontal (mm) & 47.74 & 2.43 & 47.58 & 2.37 & 46.31 & 2.58 \\
8 MB cusp to horizontal (mm) & 16.99 & 3.07 & 17.51 & 3.45 & 19.68 & 3.92 \\
8 MB cusp to midsagittal (mm) & 40.66 & 2.31 & 40.69 & 2.10 & 39.02 & 4.08 \\ Width (mm) & & & & & & \\ Mandibular intercanine width & 28.25 & 2.76 & 28.35 & 2.47 & 28.01 & 1.90 \\ Mandibular intermalor width & 52.66 & 5.90 & 51.23 & 5.17 & 52.75 & 7.68 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Measurements of predistalization, postdistalization and long-term retention treated group. Regarding the mandibular intercanine width, the treated group presented a significant increase compared to the control group, of 28.0 mm versus 26.9 mm (\(p<0.05\)). Figure 5: Bar graphs of angulation and frontal and horizontal positional changes at predistalization, postdistalization, and long-term retention in the treated group. (**A**) Angulation. (**B**) Frontal positional change. (**C**) Horizontal positional change.