Developed face bow and protraction headgear in correction of anterior openbite Class III patients

Abstract

The aim of this face bow and protraction headgear design is to correct the anterior open bite in dentally Class III open bite cases. Patients were selected and full coverage acrylic cap splint-type rapid maxillary expansion appliance was cemented and activated twice a day for 5 days. After sutural separation, newly developed face bow and protraction headgear was worn and 750 g of force was applied. Newly developed appliance consisted of a face bow and forehead pad. The face bow had intraoral and extraoral components and was custom made individually for each patient. The intraoral bow was inserted from the distal openings of the tubes which was soldered to the extraoral face bow. The extraoral face bow was extended backward till the front of the ear then turned upward and ended at the level of the hooks on the forehead pad. In this extraoral appliance design only the forehead was used as anchorage unit. On both sides of the pad, adjustable wire hooks were placed which allowed us to maintain the distance from the forehead pad hooks to the face bow hooks. Heavy elastics were attached in between the hooks of the face bow and the hooks on the forehead pad.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A method for correcting anterior openbite in Class III patients using an orthodontic appliance comprising: 
 a) providing a stationary support by contacting only the cranial portion of a patient's head so that pressure is not exerted against the lower jaw and mandible; and    b) applying force in a forward direction toward the patient's forehead and at the forehead level to rotate the maxilla with downward and backward direction in Class III patients with overbite.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the force is applied above the center of resistance of maxilla.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the direction of the force is substantially parallel to the Frankfort plane.