Picking the Right Wire Jerry R.

Clark, DDS, MS Greensboro, NC As a practicing orthodontist, I choose my archwires carefully to have the greatest effect on tooth movement over the longest period of time with the least discomfort for my patients. Also, from a business standpoint, the patient chairtime necessary to treat a case is a significant factor in choosing which archwires to use. I want to use wires that will provide the best results for my patients with the least chairtime required. Most of the time, my wire of choice is a nickel titanium, heat-activated archwire. I also want an archwire that does not exert just one force but provides just the right amount of force to most efficiently move anterior teeth while gradually increasing in force to most effectively move bicuspids and molars. Retracting Upper Incisors Howard A. Fine, DMD, MMSc Mount Kisco and Katonah, NY A 2 x 4 setup is a common treatment modality in the mixed dentition, as in the example below where retraction of the upper incisors is the plan (Figure 1). However, in the initial leveling stages, with light wire such as nickel titanium, the wire can easily be displaced out of the molar tube, causing unnecessary emergency visits. By placing 256-Begg brackets on the deciduous teeth (Figure 2), the problem is eliminated. These brackets are extremely cost-effective, so you will not deplete your inventory of expensive straightwire brackets. In addition, the wire does not fit tightly in the slot of the bracket, so movement is not inhibited. The wire can be tied into these brackets with bracket-specific brass pins as shownor can simply be ligated with ligature wire.