The maxillary orthopedic splint.

Craniomaxillary orthopedic correction of the skeletal imbalance of Class II malocclusions is often the desired method of treatment in these cases. The ability to apply a "pure" orthopedic force to the maxillary complex has so far eluded research efforts. However, the use of a maxillary splint with a high-pull extraoral traction assembly has been shown to be most effective in reducing Class II skeletal dysplasias through a combination of dentoalveolar and basal bone changes. Force delivery to the maxillary complex in Class II skeletal jaw disharmonies is through the teeth. The philosophy behind the use of the maxillary splint is that if the force delivered to the upper jaw involved the use of all the upper teeth (and hard palate) rather than only the maxillary first molars, as in conventional extraoral orthodontic therapy, the effect on the jaws would be more orthopedic than orthodontic in nature. The advantages of the use of the maxillary splint in the younger patient with a severe Class II malocclusion are that it reduces the vulnerability of the maxillary incisors to accidental fracture, while concomitantly reducing the Class II dysplasia, thereby effectively shortening the later-stage multiband corrective time and procedures. Further advantages of the maxillary splint described are ease of construction and clinical application, which makes it an attractive appliance for use in dental clinics or institutions in which patient volume, infrequent visits, and ecomomic factors are major considerations. This preliminary report on the philosophy of treatment procedure and description of the appliance design is to be followed by a further cephalometric and clinical evaluation of results achieved with its use.