Do Powerchains Pull Forward or Backward??

[weakjawmcgraw]

I just had my second visit for my braces, during which I had powerchains put on both my top and bottom teeth. I figured I would get them because I had four pre-molar extractions, but I'm curious about the placement and how the powerchains work. My bottom teeth, where I had the first premolars removed, are powerchained completely to the first molar. However, my top teeth, where I had the second premolars removed, are only powerchained to the canine. I'm wondering how the powerchains are going to work to fill the gaps. I assume the teeth will be pulled backward, but I'm wondering how it will work if its a partial powerchain?

[assertives]

Powerchains can do both pulling backward and forward. I have a full powerchain on my lower jaw to bring my molars forward, and I have just a partial 3 link powerchain on both sides of my upper jaw to bring my canines back.

My ortho explained to me that if he pulls all the front 6 back at the same time, nothing will move, so he is "dividing and conquer" by moving the canines back first and then the other teeth to eventually get rid of my overbite.