Dento-facial orthopaedics in the correction of class II malocclusion.

An orthopaedic appliance system has been developed with the specific therapeutic intention of removing those factors responsible for the initiation or maintenance of the skeletal Class II malocclusion. This is accomplished by means of restraint and redirection of forward maxillary growth and induction of mandibular growth. Concurrently, adverse soft tissue influences are eliminated or ameliorated. Clinical and experimental evidence gives support to this concept and case histories show that clinical mode of use of the appliance system. An initial 10--12 month orthopaedic phase is followed by a second phase of similar duration, utilizing full Edgewise therapy to perfect the occlusion. The second phase is much reduced in complexity and is generally confined to alignment and final detailing as the essential corrections have been achieved in the orthopaedic phase. It is considered that this combined approach to Skeletal II treatment is more physiologic than conventional treatment and results in a better harmony of dental and facial features.