Define the MARA appliance and its typical effect on skeletal correction.

• A. A removable appliance to move molars.
• B. The Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance is a fixed appliance that advances the mandible to address Class II discrepancy, yielding skeletal and dental changes with minimal compliance.
• C. An appliance to retract maxillary canines.
• D. A fixed appliance to distalize maxillary molars.

Answer: (B)

The Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance is a fixed functional appliance used in growing patients with Class II malocclusion to posture the mandible forward. By holding the lower jaw forward, it promotes skeletal changes in the mandible itself and accompanying dental changes, producing a sagittal improvement in the jaw relationship with minimal reliance on patient compliance compared with removable appliances. This forward-posturing effect is the hallmark, rather than moving molars or simply retracting maxillary teeth. It contrasts with removable appliances that require wear time, and with appliances aimed at distalizing the upper molars or retracting canines, which MARA does not primarily do.