A method for applying a user adjustable force to the molars of a patient, comprising:
- a. providing an orthodontic appliance for treatment of a patient, including:
- i. left and right attachment units, secured respectively to left and right molars, joined together by an expandable frame;
- b. wherein said expandable frame includes first and second selectively expandable arms, each joined to one of said left and right attachment units and being joined together by a selectively expandable anterior bridge;
- c. wherein each said first and second selectively expandable arms includes:
- i. an arm shaft having a first end attached to one of said left and right attachment units and a second end having a head expanded in transverse dimension;
- ii. an arm sheath, receiving said head expanded in transverse dimension, which is captured by a narrowed sheath exit;
- iii. an arm position-adjustable block, positioned on said arm shaft, outside of said arm sheath;
- iv. an arm spring positioned around said arm shaft and having a first end joined to said arm sheath and a second end joined to said arm position-adjustable block;
- d. wherein said selectively expandable anterior bridge includes:
- i. a bridge first shaft attached to said arm sheath of said first selectively expandable arm, said first bridge shaft having a bend and supporting a bridge sheath;
- ii. a bridge second shaft attached to said arm sheath of said second selectively expandable arm, and bending inwardly toward said bridge sheath, and having an expanded in transverse dimension head, retained in said bridge sheath by a narrowed exit;
- iii. a bridge position-adjustable block, positioned on said second shaft, outside of said bridge sheath;
- iv. a bridge spring positioned around said bridge shaft and having a first end joined to said bridge sheath and a second end joined to said bridge position-adjustable block;
- e. adjusting said positions of said arm position-adjustable blocks, thereby placing each said arm spring into a state, selected from a set of two alternative states that consists of:
- i. a state of compression;
- and
- ii. a state of tension;
- by a user selectable amount and thereby acting on each said attached molar by one out of a set of two alternative force applications, that consists of:
- i. pushing said attached molar backward;
- and
- ii. pulling said attached molar forward
- f. adjusting said position of said bridge position-adjustable block, thereby placing said bridge spring into a state, selected from a set of two alternative states that consist of:
- i. a state of compression;
- and
- ii. a state of tension;
- by a user selectable amount and thereby acting on said attached molars by one out of a set of two alternative force applications, that consists of:
- i. pushing said attached molars outward;
- and
- ii. pulling said attached molars inward.