Class II correction with the Cantilever Bite Jumper.

OBJECTIVE To identify the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue changes that occur during Class II correction with the Cantilever Bite Jumper (CBJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective cephalometric study was conducted on 26 subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusion treated with the CBJ appliance. A comparison was made with 26 untreated subjects with Class II malocclusion. Lateral head films from before and after CBJ therapy were analyzed through conventional cephalometric and Johnston analyses. RESULTS Class II correction was accomplished by means of 2.9 mm apical base change, 1.5 mm distal movement of the maxillary molars, and 1.1 mm mesial movement of the mandibular molars. The CBJ exhibited good control of the vertical dimension. The main side effect of the CBJ is that the vertical force vectors of the telescope act as lever arms and can produce mesial tipping of the mandibular molars. CONCLUSIONS The Cantilever Bite Jumper corrects Class II malocclusions with similar percentages of skeletal and dentoalveolar effects.