Soldered Power Arm: An Easy and Effective Method for Intrusion and Retraction of Anterior Teeth

Abstract

The orthodontic correction of deep overbite can be achieved with several mechanisms that will result in true intrusion of anterior teeth, extrusion of posterior teeth, or a combination of both. For the orthodontic correction of bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion with deep bite, there are several treatment modalities like segmented arch approach, retraction and intrusion utility arches, temporary anchorage devices. Though not a novel therapeutic concept, the use of miniscrew implants to obtain absolute anchorage has recently become very popular in clinical orthodontic approaches. To allow the use of sliding mechanics for bodily retraction with intrusion of anterior teeth, we devised a soldered power arm (SPA) on standard molar tube. It is simple, stable, precise and effective in cases where anterior teeth need to be simultaneously retracted and intruded. A power arm can be readily fabricated from 20 gauge stainless steel wire and soldered on the molar buccal tube so as to avoid any distortion or loosening of power arm from molar tube during the course of the treatment. The SPA works efficiently with the molar being stabilized in all three planes of space. The resultant force vector is directed more apically toward the center of resistance of the anchor unit, which resulted in the treatment outcome of retraction and intrusion of the anterior teeth and correction of the deep bite.