HEADGEAR

Extraoral force therapy carried out with extraoral orthodontic/orthopedic appliances is a valuable tool in orthodontic therapy. Optimally it should be utilized during the mixed dentition stage for those cases described. During this stage the best results are obtained with little or no retention problems. It is an effective therapy but depends upon patient co-operation. This is usually not difficult to obtain as it is used only when the patient is at home and is an alternative procedure to extraction of teeth. A high percentage of success is achieved.It also may be used as an auxiliary in other methods of treatment for the reinforcement of anchorage.It also may be used possibly restricting or changing the direction of the growth of the mandible in growing patient.The clinical application of extraoral traction is now soundly based on an expanding knowledge of the growth and therapeutic responsiveness of the cranio-facial complex learned largely from the cephalometric studies & finite element method (FEM). We have progressed well with time and today’s clinician applies his knowledge and carefully plans treatment for each individual patient’s need.