Bone anchored maxillary protraction - a case report

Background Class III malocclusion is the result of maxillary retrognathia and/or mandibular prognathia. Orthodontists have different, age-dependent treatment options for class III anomalies. Treatment by means of Delaire-type facemask is an option, if the class III anomaly is diagnosed and treated early in age. Later treatment, previous to pubertal growth spurt, needs bone anchorage. Bone anchors are useful in patients, whose facemask therapy had not been successful or to avoid or decrease the amount of later orthognatic surgery, particularly if the patients have been too old for treatment with facemask. Case Presentation An eleven-year-old female patient with class III malocclusion with reversed overjet and deviation of the mandible to the left side was treated with bone anchors (Bollard-type plates) and elastics. After the overjet was corrected, the bone anchors were used during the following treatment with fixed braces for changing the position of particular teeth. Conclusions In this case report, bone anchors for skeletal anchorage were useful during treatment of the class III malocclusion. There was no need for orthognathic surgery during the course of the treatment. Despite some possible complications (loosening of the bone anchors, granulated tissue, unfavorable outcome during growth), the use of bone anchors and elastics for stimulation maxillary growth is effective in patients with class III malocclusion.