Tricks of the Trade: Modified Bioplast Retainer

Treatment modalities for skeletal Class II malocclusion with mandibular discrepancy include fixed functional appliances, myofunctional appliances followed by fixed orthodontic therapy or orthognathic surgery. Mandibular advancement with any such treatment modality is normally followed by a period of retention. Though good buccal segment occlusion is the cornerstone for stability after correction of an arch-to-arch relationship, a retention appliance is always necessary to allow time for internal bony remodelling to support the corrected occlusion. In order to provide functional support, a retaining appliance such as a Hawley's appliance with inclined reverse plane, a passive Bionator, or an Activator may be used.1 This article illustrates and describes the procedure for fabrication of a modified Bioplast retainer on a Class II treated patient, in which the occlusal blocks similar to a twin block appliance are incorporated into the Bioplast retainer to provide functional support in a Class II treated patient. The aim of this modified retainer technique is to provide functional support and maintain the advantages of a twin block appliance during the retention phase.