Aim: This study aimed to compare the dentoskeletal and soft tissue changes promoted by the Distal Jet and Pendulum, followed by fixed appliances, in class II malocclusion treatment, evaluated in relation to an untreated control group.

Materials and methods: Group 1 comprised 20 patients (15 female; 5 male) with class II malocclusion, at an initial mean age of 12.77 years. These patients were treated with the Distal Jet followed by fixed appliances for a mean period of 4.15 years. Group 2 consisted of 15 patients (10 female; 5 male) with class II malocclusion, at an initial mean age of 13.42 years, treated with the Pendulum followed by fixed appliances for a mean period of 4.41 years. Group 3 comprised 16 subjects (8 female; 8 male), with class II malocclusion, not submitted to any orthodontic treatment. This group had an initial mean age of 12.25 years. The mean observation period was 3.73 years. Comparison of the three groups was performed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey tests.

Results: The Distal Jet appliance showed more palatal tipping of the maxillary incisors than the Pendulum. The treated groups showed more overjet reduction and improvement of molar relationship than the control group.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the effects of these two appliances in Class II malocclusion correction are very similar.

Clinical significance: Both Distal Jet and Pendulum appliances corrected the class II malocclusion with similar cephalometric treatment changes.