How Strong Is The Bond To The Tooth On Self-Litigating Braces? Can I Attach A Reverse-Pull Headgear To Them?

[Class2Overbite]

I bought a reverse-pull headgear online (this one: http://oi66.tinypic.com/1f7g3s.jpg) and I want to try connecting a paper-clip to my self-litigating braces and connecting it to my headgear through elastics like this:

http://oi64.tinypic.com/sotpw6.jpg

Is there any risk of the bracket being pulled from the teeth?

Note that I cannot afford a functional orthodontist and I have severe TMJ and a recessed lower maxilla. I know it is a bad idea to self treat, but I cannot afford not to. So if you could only comment on whether it poses a danger to the bracket and what maximal force is it would be very much appreciated.

I wait in anticipation for your responses!

[assertives]

Of course there is a possibility that the headgear can break a bracket/brackets. Even under normal circumstances, brackets do break, let alone exerting a force on it in a way that it may not be originally designed to handle, depending on how you end up attaching it. Apart from breaking a bracket, you should also be cautious about breaking or damaging a tooth too.

As for what is the maximal force, I think perhaps only an ortho or a dentist would be able to advise.

I know you said you cannot afford not to self-treat, but please do think about whether you could afford the consequences should the self-treating go awry.

[djspeece]

I know you said you cannot afford not to self-treat, but please do think about whether you could afford the consequences should the self-treating go awry.

Very good point.

[sirwired]

I'm not sure I fully understand. You obviously have an actual orthodontist treating you already. Why are you proposing to jury-rig a change to your treatment plan? (I presume without the buy-in of your ortho) I'd say the likelihood things will go horribly wrong is a lot higher than the probability this will work. Popped brackets are likely to be the least of your worries. You could really screw up your TMJ here.

Headgear use at all is very rare in adults because it's of limited effectiveness after your bone has stopped growing.

P.S. There really is no such thing as a "functional orthodontist"; it's trendy for an ortho to call themselves one, but all that's necessary to do so is ordering a new box of business cards. The designation doesn't actually mean anything.

[DoubleJawOrthoCrowns]

My understanding is a functional orthodontist buys into a different paradigm than traditional orthodontics. So for example, traditional orthodontists believe adult palate expansion is impossible without surgery since the midline suture fuses after puberty whereas functional orthodontists disagree with that assertion though they concede it is more challenging in adult patients. They further say the studies upon which conventional ortho base their assertion are too few and therefore not reliable and need for orthodontis to become more scientific.
This is one example.