Fig. 4 Vektor Appliance illustrating its effect on the maxilla and the mandibular incisors. Fig. 5 Fig. 7 Patient 1 – note the apparent protrusion of the maxilla and the retrusion of the mandible. Fig. 6 Patient 1 – note the massive overjet Patient 1 – Note not only the improvement in the patients appearance but also the impressive change in the overjet usually within 4 to 6 months. Converting the use of moments that go through the center of rota-tion of the maxilla rather than the maxillary molar prevents tipping and intrusive forces against that tooth, while simultaneously placing an intrusive and forward vector against the overerupted and retruded mandibular incisors (Fig. 4). This avoids correction of the overbite by extruding the molars, which autorotates the mandible down and back. Using the VektorPRO appliance requires the banding of the maxil-lary and mandibular first molars, then bonding of all the other teeth except the mandibular premolars. This prevents them from over-erupting and also provides space for the sliding feature of the Vektor-PRO. Ordinarily, it takes 6 to 7 months to align the mandibular anterior teeth enough to accept a large archwire (0.22 brackets will require a .021 x .025 wire). Installa-tion of the appliance seldom requires more than five minutes. Usually the overjet and overbite will correct within 4 to 6 months. Even in an extreme case of a 16 mm Class II overjet, the Vektor PRO has produced remarkably efficient results (Fig. 2). Following an approximately five-minute installa-tion, the appliance produces full resolution of the overjet (Figs. 5 and 6) and noticeable change in the patient’s profile in just 6 months (Fig. 7). Seeing Results Sooner Some general principles have developed with the use of the VektorPRO: ᕡ When treating a patient with a retruded or normally posi-tioned maxilla, don’t use retraction. ᕢ When treating a patient with a retruded mandible, use protraction to move the denti-tion mesially. 18 Winter 2020 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Winter 2020: Page 18
