A clinical assessment of the Active Vertical Corrector--a nonsurgical alternative for skeletal open bite treatment.

This article describes the Active Vertical Corrector (AVC), which is a simple removable or fixed orthodontic appliance that intrudes the posterior teeth in both the maxilla and mandible by reciprocal forces. By the use of effective posterior intrusion of teeth, the mandible is allowed to rotate in upward and forward directions. The uniqueness of this appliance is that it allows the clinician to correct anterior open bite problems by actually reducing anterior facial height. This treatment approaches the problem at its cause (overeruption of posterior teeth) and provides better facial balance and esthetics than most conventional orthodontic treatment procedures. Problems formerly thought to require orthognathic surgery can now be treated successfully with the AVC.