Inter and intra maxillary elastic have impact on orthodontic management - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

  • Mohammad Khursheed Alam Orthodontic Division, Preventive Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka 72345, Saudi Arabia. mkalam@ju.edu.sa [MKA], Department of Dental Research Cell, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai 600077, India, epartment of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
  • Huda Abutayyem Assistant Professor and Consultant Orthodontist. Department of Clinical Sciences, Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
  • Maher AL Shayeb Department of Clinical Sciences, Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates. Department of Clinical Sciences, Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
  • Maysara Adnan Ibrahim Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v24i3.82965

Keywords:

United Arab Emirates.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the effects of intermaxillary elastics (IMEs) and intramaxillary elastics (IAEs) in orthodontic treatment and provide evidence-based recommendations for their usage. Eligibility criteria: Articles that examined the effects of IMEs and IAEs in orthodontic treatment were considered. A total of 10 papers, 5 for each type of elastic, were included in the final analysis. Information sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus were searched to identify relevant articles. Risk of bias: Cochrane’s risk of bias tool was utilised for the assessment of the risk of bias. Included studies: Ten papers were included in the study, with 5 each focused on IMEs and IAEs. Both types of elastics were found to be associated with significant improvements in orthodontic management. The OR for noticeable vs negligible impact was 0.44 for IMEs and 0.48 for IAEs, indicating a significant association. Synthesis of results: A meta-analysis was conducted, and forest plots were generated to assess the odds ratio (OR) for IMEs and IAEs separately. The analysis showed a positive correlation between the use of both types of elastics and orthodontic management. One study indicated that appliance therapy was slightly more effective than IAEs. The forest plot for IMEs showed no significant heterogeneity, while the plot for IAEs showed moderate heterogeneity. The findings suggest that both IMEs and IAEs are viable options for orthodontic management, although some heterogeneity was observed in the studies regarding IAEs. Limitations of evidence: The review was limited to studies published in the English language, which could have led to the exclusion of relevant studies published in other languages. Also, the review only included studies published from 2013 onwards, which could have resulted in the exclusion of relevant older studies. Interpretation: The study’s results support the use of both IMEs and IAEs in orthodontic treatment, indicating their positive effects. Further research may be needed to address the observed heterogeneity in studies focusing on IAEs. Registration and protocol: The research protocol was developed and registered with PROSPERO [CRD42023405593]. The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for the search and inclusion of relevant articles.

BJMS, Vol. 24 No. 03 July’25 Page : 995-1006

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Published

2025-07-25

How to Cite

Alam , M. K., Abutayyem , H., Shayeb , M. A., & Ibrahim , M. A. (2025). Inter and intra maxillary elastic have impact on orthodontic management - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 24(3), 995–1006. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v24i3.82965

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Khursheed Alam , Huda Abutayyem , Maher AL Shayeb , Maysara Adnan Ibrahim

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