Ricketts’ Bioprogressive Theology
Academic year 2023 – 2024
Plan
1- Introduction
2- Basic principles of Ricketts technique
2-1 The use of light forces and segmented arches
2-2 Anchoring
2-3 Treatment of incisor overbite before incisor retraction
2-4 Overcorrection
3- Means used in bioprogressive technique
3-1 The brackets
3-2 The wires used
4- The main types of bow used in Ricketts technique
4-1 Basic Arc
4-2 Variations of the basic bow
Conclusion
Bibliographic references
1/ Introduction
Ricketts’ bioprogressive technique, long called the light square progressive technique, belongs to the group of second-generation techniques derived from classical Edgewise, from which it differs in many ways.
This technique has fundamental characteristics, namely:
-the segmentation of the arches.
-taking growth into consideration
This technique was developed by Robert Ricketts in the early 1950s and it was in 1965 that Carl Gugino transmitted this technique to Europe.
According to Ricketts: Bioprogressive technique is not a simple orthodontic technique, but it implies a total orthodontic philosophy.
2/ Basic principles of Ricketts technique
2-1 The use of light forces and segmented arches:
The use of light forces allows optimum movement of the dental units.
Arch segmentation ensures the stability of the facial axis and precise three-dimensional control of dental movements. This segmentation also ensures better control of the anterior occlusal plane by making the incisal sector independent of the lateral sectors and relying on these same lateral sectors to ingress, egress, advance or move back the incisors.
2-2- Anchoring :
- musculature: according to Ricketts the anchoring varies according to the facial type
It is difficult to open the joint in a brachifacial (strong musculature
Masseterine), while it is very easy to obtain this result in a
Dolichofacial in this case this anchoring is weak due to a tonicity
Less muscular
- Cortical bone: consists of moving the anchor teeth against the cortical bone (dense bone with little blood supply, which slows down tooth movement)
According to Gugino, it is the pressure exerted on the cortical bone that constitutes the anchorage rather than the actual displacement of the roots.
2-3 Treatment of incisor overbite before incisor retraction:
For Ricketts, it is essential to unlock the malocclusion by starting with the treatment of the overbite, thus freeing up mandibular growth. It will then be possible to move the upper incisors back if necessary.
2-4 Overcorrection to minimize recurrence:
It helps prevent the tendency to relapse, Ricketts places the teeth in hypercorrected positions. Naturally, hypercorrection must be considered in all 3 directions of space.
3 / Means used in bio progressive technique
3-1 The brackets:
Ricketts and his colleagues imagined incorporating the information initially
placed on the arches by the practitioner in the brackets glued to the teeth. This
The idea of pre-information reflects a desire to simplify the practitioner’s work by
Reducing the time spent bending wire, without losing the quality of the results
obtained.
The brackets in Ricketts technique are therefore pre-informed with angulation of
third order and second order tilt.
The throat depth is .030 inch, which allows for easy wire accommodation.
and allows the superposition of two wires if necessary. The width of the throat is
of .018 inch.
The brackets are torqued (Inclined groove for the 11 and 21 of 22 0 , of 7 0 for the 13
and 23 and 14 0 for 12 and 22.
The inclination is 5 0 for the lower molar tubes and canines.
3-2 The threads used :
In a constant concern for simplification and saving time in the chair, alloys with particular properties superior to those of steels are used in Ricketts bioprogressive technique, this is the case of:
- Elgiloy : which is an alloy of chrome cobalt Nickel, it can be square in section
(.016 x .016) used at the start of treatment, or rectangular (.018 x .030), there is at the level of the elgiloy an automatic limitation of the forces exerted in fact the low elastic limit constitutes a safety in the activations.
Only blue and yellow elgiloy are used in bioprogressive technique.
- TMA (Titanium Molybdenum alloy), it has the advantage of having a lower modulus of elasticity than steel.
It can be welded with an electric welder, which allows the installation of hooks and auxiliaries.
4 / The main types of bow used in Ricketts
4-1 Basic Arc :
It is inserted into the gingival tubes of the molars and into the brackets of the incisors, laterally at the level of the canines and premolars it goes around the gum.
This arch has various curvatures: a lingual torque, a tip back, a toe in, it
May also have coils placed at the top of each corner to
increase the elasticity of the thread.
The basic arch can be divided into molar segment, gingival lateral segment and
Incisal segment.
- The molar segment measures 6mm, it is placed in the molar tubes
- The anterior or incisal segment is placed in the incisor brackets
- The lateral or gingival segment is curved at the level of the canine bump
- Basic bow action:
At the level of the incisors
| An ingression or egression component | A component of vestibulo version or linguo version coronary |
Ingression: it results from the effect of the posterior tip back (2nd order curvature), by introducing the posterior segment into the molar tubes, its anterior portion rises in the direction of the vestibule thus causing the incisors in the vertical movement.
Ricketts’ Bioprogressive Theology
Egression : it results from the effect of the posterior tip forward, by introducing the posterior segment into the molar tubes, the anterior portion descends thus causing the incisors in the vertical movement.
At the level of the molars
For every prior ingressive force there corresponds a posterior egressive component.
This movement is eliminated by the effect of high traction FEB or by banding the second molar .
The coronodistal movement of the molar due to tip back is eliminated by a toe in.
At the level of the posterior sectors
To prevent the free arc segment from entering too much into the vestibule, a lateral torque is given.
4-2 Variants of the basic bow:
- Expansion Base Arc
It has 4 internal loops built longer than the arch, as its name suggests this arch allows the expansion of the arch.
- Contraction base arc
It has 4 external round loops built in front of the molar tubes to allow the incisors to move back.
Ricketts’ Bioprogressive Theology
5 / The advantages of segmentation
Segmentation allows the early implementation of therapy in children in order to intercept dysmorphosis and allow growth to express itself freely.
In addition, the biomechanics of Ricketts technique allows the use of limited forces, through the use of segmented arcs.
Conclusion : The Ricketts technique presents a major advantage through the segmentation of the arches: the possibility of early management of dysmorphoses to allow free rein to physiological growth.
Bibliographic references:
1- Lejoyeux E, Flageul F dentofacial orthopedics a bioprogressive approach. Quintessence internationale Paris 1999, 12 -15
2- Philoppe J. history of orthodontics SID editions 2003 152-153
3- Ricketts R. The wisdom of the bioprogressive philosophy. Seminars in orthodontics, vol 4, number 4, December 22-24, 1998
Ricketts’ Bioprogressive Theology
Wisdom teeth can be painful if they are misplaced.
Composite fillings are aesthetic and durable.
Bleeding gums can be a sign of gingivitis.
Orthodontic treatments correct misaligned teeth.
Dental implants provide a permanent solution for missing teeth.
Scaling removes tartar and prevents gum disease.
Good dental hygiene starts with brushing twice a day.