Abstract: A pivot for use in a Herbst orthodontic appliance has a base attached to the attachment structure on a patient's tooth, a barrel extending from the base to pass through an eyelet on the end of telescoping members of the Herbst appliance, and a head retaining the eyelet on the barrel. The barrel includes a saddle that allows a range of angular motion for the telescoping members outside of a plane normal to the central axis of the barrel.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an orthodontic mechanical force module having a jack screw whose rotation is controlled by a ratchet. In one embodiment, a pair of housings are interconnected with the patient in any appropriate manner, and are further rotatably interconnected with a rotatable spindle. At least one of these housings is also threadably engaged with the spindle. A ratchet is associated with the spindle to selectively allow the spindle to rotate only in a direction that increases a magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient by changing the spacing between the pair of housings by a movement of at least one of the housings along the spindle due to its rotation. That is, in an active position the ratchet precludes the spindle from rotating in a direction that would tend to reduce the magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient.