Treatment of Class III malocclusion with the horseshoe appliance: case reports in growing patients

The horseshoe appliance was developed by Dr. Schwarz, and is used to correct sagittal relationships by elastic force in patients with Class III malocclusion. The horseshoe appliances minimize the increment of lower anterior facial height and allow the mandible to be repositioned harmoniously with the soft tissue and muscle matrix of the jaw. It has the advantages of good patient cooperation, ease of construction, and effective modification. In patients who were treated with the horseshoe appliance, the following results were observed: 1. Forward growth of the maxilla was enhanced, overgrowth of the mandible was restricted, and a normal arch relationship was established. 2. Minimum downward and backward rotation of the mandible was accepted with the free sliding of the appliance, and elastic force and increment of lower anterior facial height were minimized. 3. Both labioversion of maxillary incisors and linguoversion of mandibular incisors were observed and facial profile was improved.