AND (“anchorage loss” OR “anchorage quality” OR “quality of life” OR “benefit” or “harm” OR “efficacy” OR “side effects” OR “effect” OR “orthodontic anchorage procedures”[mh] OR “treatment outcome”[mh])

Search terms EMBASE (including EMTREE terms)

(“en-masse retraction” OR “incisor retraction” OR “front retraction” OR “orthodontic gap closure” OR “orthodontic space closure” OR “extraction therapy” [EMTREE]) AND (“mini implants” OR “micro screws” OR “micro implants” OR “skeletal anchorage” OR “palatal implant” OR “skeletal” OR “skeletal anchorage” OR “implant”[EMTREE] OR “bone screw”[EMTREE] OR “tooth implant”[EMTREE] “temporary anchorage device” OR “TAD” OR “Bone screws” OR “intraosseous screw” OR “dental implants”) AND (“anchorage loss” OR “anchorage quality” or “quality of life” OR “benefit” OR “harm” OR “efficacy” OR “side effects” OR “effect” OR “orthodontic anchorage”[EMTREE] OR “treatment outcome”)

The electronic search was complemented by a hand search of the following journals: American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Oorthopedics, The Angle Orthodontist, European Journal of Orthodontics, Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research, and Seminars in Orthodontics.

Finally, the references of all selected full-text articles and related reviews were scanned. If required, the corresponding authors were contacted and requested to provide missing data or information.

During the first stage of study selection, the titles and abstracts were screened and evaluated according to the following inclusion criteria:

English language

Prospective controlled clinical trials (CCT) (for qualitative synthesis) or randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) (for qualitative and quantitative synthesis, parallel group designs) in humans comparing mini implant based on conventional anchored treatments

Patients: general population (all ethnicities, community dwelling)

Measurement of anchorage loss of the first upper molars during retraction

At the second stage of selection, all full-text articles identified during the first stage were acquired. During this procedure, the pre-selected publications were evaluated according to the following exclusion criteria:

Patients younger than 12 years

No bilateral extraction of one upper premolar per site