Orthodontic facebow injuries and safety equipment

Abstract

Facebows are widely used in orthodontic treatment to reinforce anchorage, and in selected cases can be very useful and effective. However, they are not without their problems. Reports of injuries with this appliance have continued to appear in the literature since 1975. This article reports the results of a preliminary survey of 23 European countries confirming 10 eye injuries and includes a review of the current literature. The safety headgears currently available are examined and their adequacy, in the light of this survey, is assessed.