HYCON
DEVICE
Fast...Precise...Controlled...
Adenta has worked closely with Dr. Winfried Schutz
of Germany to engineer a unique device to provide a
step by step approach for tooth movement mesially, distally,
but more specifically for space closure. With each activation,
the HYCON Device allows you to move the tooth at a fairly
high force, without decreasing blood supply to the surrounding
periodontium structure. This device permits you to make
exact and controlled activation in small steps. Each
180° turn closes the space 0.175mm, with absolute
precision.
Testimonial by Dr. Dennis Dionne, Orthodontist, Windsor,
Ontario, Canada.
" I find that the Hycon device is handy to have
around when it proves difficult to close the last few
millimeters of space, especially in adults. It is well
received by the patients, and is predictable in clinical
usage" |
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Technical
Support
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5 patient kit includes:
10pcs Hycon screw
5pcs screwdriver
$245.00 per kit
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Introduction
The HYCON®-device combines the advantageous
mechanical features of the oldest orthodontic mechanism
"the screw" with today's fixed multi-bracket
appliances.
The HYCON®-device has been developed to replace
elastic space closing mechanisms.
Application
Tooth movement, mesially or distally, especially space
closure. |
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The HYCON® -device is manufactured under the regulations
of ISO 9000 / MDD (Medical Device Directive) 93/42/ WG. It
has been thoroughly tested. More than 1,000 patients have
been successfully treated.
Clinical experience has proven that the HYCON® -device
causes no mucogingival irritation.
The HYCON®-device is a single use product, and once
removed from
the patient should be discarded in the proper manner.
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Description
The HYCON device consists of a bolt and nut combination
in which the nut is mounted on a support wire. A friction
brake is installed to prevent the bolt from uncontrolled
turning. The lead of the bolt is .014 inches. The Hycon
device is available with two support wire dimensions:
.018” slot technique a .018x.025 support wire
.022” slot technique a .021x.025 support
Note: Some .022” molar attachments dimensions
of the auxillary tube may be .018x.022. |
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Characteristics and Concept
The threaded (screw type) mechanism permits exact activation
in small steps. The device’s high potential force rules
out friction as a factor, thus permitting the use of a strong
straight arch wire in accordance with the sliding mechanics
concept of Dr. R. McLaughlin. (recommended arch wire dimension
is .021x.025 with .022 slot technique)
As for the characteristics of the HYCON®, the advantageous difference to elastic forces can be seen in the fact that a threaded mechanism permits controlled activation at a fairly high force level but over very short distances (smaller than the periodontal gap).
Adequate activation of an elastic mechanism includes the force necessary to overcome friction and, additionally, stimulate the tissue. This requires the tension of the elastic module over a certain distance which has to be far bigger than the periodontal
gap. |
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With elastic mechanisms, the amount of stretching (activation)
is proportional to the force required, a principle that does not apply to a threaded (screw type) mechanism. Additionally, by allowing the use of heavy, well fitted arch wires, this method closely approaches ideal bodily tooth movement. |
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Precondition
Straight wire appliance with auxiliary tube on the molar bands. Leveling and aligning must be completed with a heavy, straight, rectangular steel wire installed. The teeth should be grouped in the blocks, two lateral and one front, with the defined spaces each distally from the front block. The teeth of the front block should be laced with a figure 8 ligature wire. In addition, elastics ligatures should be used to hold the arch wire to the front block teeth.
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Directions for
use
Preparing the HYCON®
Before inserting the HYCON®, a dead soft ligature
wire
(min. .012”) has to be twisted around the neck
and sharply bent away from the screw.
Recommended instrument: Mathieu type pliers. |
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Inserting the HYCON®
The support wire is inserted into the auxiliary tube on the
molar band from the mesial side, so that the nut points to
the
buccal side. The HYCON® is then secured by bending the
support wire back.
Recommended instrument: Weingart type pliers or ligature
director. |
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Connecting the HYCON®
The prepared ligature wire connects the screw head to the frontal block (connecting wire). There are several possible ways to ligate the connecting wire to the front block: For instance: The connecting wire of the HYCON® can be fastened easily to the eye of a Kobayashi ligature which is ligated to the bracket of a tooth in a distal position on the front block. |
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| One can ligate the connecting
wire of the HYCON® directly to
a bracket of the front block,
as illustrated in the picture |
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Alternatively, one can ligate the connecting wire to
a bracket’s power arm (not illustrated) The connecting
wire could be also fixed to the arch wire directly by
using a posted arch wire or a type of hook (e.g., Gurin
type).
In the case that the HYCON® is connected to the arch wire
directly, please note that the arch wire should stay centered
to the midline. |
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Physiological Reference
To provide a continuous step-by-step space closure, Dr.
Schütz developed an orthodontic device which, with
each activation, allows the orthodontist to move the tooth
over a distance that does not exceed the range of the
periodontal gap. Thus, although working at a fairly high
force level, permanent blood supply to the periodontium
and the surrounding structures is ensured, creating an
ideal situation for an optimal metabolism and, consequently,
osteoclast/osteoblast activity.
The front of the upper jaw is stabilized by a figure 8 ligature wire, with the connecting wire attached to a posted arch wire. The lower jaw shows a combination of the HYCON® and a ´Gurin Hook`. |
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Activation
Using the small screwdriver which comes with the set, the patient usually tightens the HYCON® about every two to three days by turning it clockwise. The direction of turning the bolt is indicated on the side of the screw driver.
The HYCON® has to be activated in 2 steps. |
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First step: The patient
should turn the bolt until he/she feels the beginning
of tension. This straightens the connecting wire.
Second step: The patient
then has to turn the bolt for a given amount, depending
on the anchorage situation.
- If there is no anchorage required (reciprocal space
closure) the patient should turn the bolt one complete
turn (360 degrees).
- If anchorage is needed, the bolt should be turned
half a turn (180 degrees).
- Apart from the given recommendation, the orthodontist
is free to determine the frequency and the amount
of activating the HYCON®
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It is of decisive importance that the patient should
feel pressure, but no pain whatsoever. Pain-free function
is the reliable clinical indicator for the correct activation
of the HYCON® . It ensures that periodontal tissue is
not overstrained. Additionally the absolute pain-free function
of the HYCON® device provides highest comfort for the
patient.
Reactivation
If there is still a space left after working the complete
range of the screw, it is necessary to unscrew the device
to the required extent and to tighten the ligature wire accordingly.
Anchorage Control
An inherent advantage of the method of space closure involving
the HYCON® is that there is less strain upon anchorage
units. Activating the HYCON® has an effect on both sides
of the space. The additional use of means of anchorage (intermax.
elastics, headgear) enables the orthodontist to control anchorage,
in order to reduce or neutralize the effect of the HYCON®
on the side of the space where little or no tooth movement
at all is required. |
Practical Hints
Retraction and Intrusion of the
Maxillary Front Block
In case a combined retraction and simultaneous gentle
intrusion of the upper front teeth is desired, it is recommended to bend an intrusion step right distally of the upper
lateral brackets. One should start with a slight intrusion
step in an .016 x .022 wire (.022 slot system) and increase
archwire dimension and intrusion steps subsequently. Thus,
one will reach the desired intrusion and closure of the
spaces simultaneously with a .019 x .025 or even .021
x.025 wire. |
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Space Closure and Midline Correction
In case of a dentoalveolar shift of the midline and resulting asymmetrical spaces, it is recommended to lace a front block with a figure 8 Kobayashi ligature, with the eye pointing to the wider space, that is, the side to which the midline should be corrected. First, the HYCON® is applied to this one side only, until the midline shift is roughly corrected. Then, the HYCON® is applied on the other side as well. Minor corrections in the mid-line can be made by asymmetrical activation.
Maximum Anchorage
In situations in which a maximum of anchorage is required
(mostly in the upper jaw), it is recommended to distalize
the canines first. In this case the incisors should be laced
with a figure 8 ligature wire (e. g.) while the connecting
wire of the HYCON® is ligated to the canine only.
In a second step, the incisor block can be retracted as
explained above.
Stabilization after Space Closure
With space closure completed as desired, it is recommended
to keep the result
stable and passive for sometime, depending on the amount of
completed tooth movement and the related adaptation of soft
tissue.
Activation by the patient
When tightening the device with the screwdriver, the patient
should simultaneously stabilize the connecting wire with a
fingernail to prevent it from twisting.
The HYCON device is a highly effective means for treatment,
and combines efficiency for the orthodontist with optimum
comfort for the patient. Please feel free to call our email
our office with any further questions you may have.
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JCO published Article of "An Alternative Method of Space
Closure: The Hycon Device" PDF Version |
