Orthodontic facebows: safety issues and current management

Abstract

Some patients treated with extra-oral traction provided by simple elasticated materials and a standard facebow have experienced problems with the standard facebow coming out of the buccal tubes at night and the catapult effect of the extra-oral traction. The disengagement of the facebow at night has affected the success of treatment and occasionally injured the patient. This paper draws on material from a variety of papers and lists the known causes and considers the associated safety issues. It also provides some clinical tips and makes several suggestions for the continued use of this very useful form of additional orthodontic anchorage.