[Objective] We have been developed the external plate system to the palate as a skeletal anchorage device, and named the Anchor-Lock. This case report will present the successful use of the Anchor-Lock to treat a bimaxillary protrusion and the tooth movements were assessed in three-dimensions.
[Case] Female patient aged 35 years and 10 months old was treated with non-extraction by using the multi bracket appliance. For the skeletal anchorage device, the Anchor-Lock was placed to the palate in the upper and mini screws was placed at the posterior molar region in the lower. For the space management, the upper and lower molars were distalized with the skeletal anchorages, and inter-proximal stripping was performed.
[Discussion and Summary] A normal occlusal relationship was successfully established. To assess the effectiveness of the Anchor-Lock for the molar distalization, the upper dental cast models of the pretreatment (T1) and the posttreatment (T2) were scanned and their surface model were reconstructed in three-dimensions. When compared the T1 model with the T2 model, the palatal region of interest (PRI) was stable enough and referred for the superimposition. As a result, the upper first molar moved distally 1.2 mm with mesial tipping of 8.6 degree.
It is considered that the Anchor-Lock meet a clinical demand to gain the available space by molar distalization.