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Speed System
Speed System
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Jeffrey L Berger
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All content following this page was uploaded by Jeffrey L Berger on 21 March 2020.
The SPEED appliance, invented by Dr. G. Herbert Hanson in the early 1970’s, is a miniaturized self-ligating bracket with a
active spring clip. This fully pre-adjusted edgewise appliance, which is available in both 0.018 and 0.022 slot size, has been
in clinical use since 1977 and commercially available since 1980. During the past 25 years, the SPEED design has been high-
ly refined. Refinements include the incorporation of a super-elastic nickel titanium spring clip for greater precision of tooth
movement throughout treatment, a “Labial Window” which enhances ease of opening the spring clip and a horizontal aux-
iliary slot in the bracket body which facilitates segmental arch wire mechanics. Although the SPEED bracket is compatible
with virtually any arch wire selection, specific arch wires have been designed to fully exploit SPEED’s inherent benefits.
These include Supercable™, a seven-stranded coaxial nickel-titanium arch wire, Hills Dual-Geometry™ arch wire and
SPEED™ arch wires. Whether traditional or specialty arch wires are used, SPEED, with its highly flexible spring clip, cre-
ates a unique mechanical system which is ideally suited for ultra-precise orthodontic tooth movement.
A labial window is found in the face of the spring clip, which greatly
facilitates its opening. A force of only 300 grams is required to open
the spring clip using this method. (This procedure is easily performed
by the clinician but not by the patient.) A mere 200 grams is required
A B C to close the spring clip and this is most commonly done with a gloved
Figure 2 finger. The light force required to both open and close the SPEED
A, illustrates the range of motion of the "spring clip". The stored energy in the spring clip
acts progressively to move the tooth until the arch wire is fully seated in the "home" posi-
appliance makes arch wire changes a very comfortable procedure for
tion in the bracket slot. patient and operator alike.
B, illustrates the low friction "metal to metal" contact with the SPEED bracket.
C, shows the spring clip activated for rotation. The spring clip will continually act to rotate
the tooth until the arch wire is seated in the home position in the bracket, as in Figure 2B.
Figure 3 The component parts of the SPEED appliance consist of a Micro-retentive mesh bonding pad, an In-out adapter, a Bracket body which contains both an auxiliary slot
for a 0.016 x 0.016 wire and a main edgewise arch wire slot, a Super-elastic nickel titanium spring clip, and a miniaturized integral Mushroom hook for the use of elastics.
Table 1. Torque Prescriptions available for the SPEED appliance
Maxillary Mandibular
Central Lateral Canine First Second First Second Central Lateral Canine First Second First Second
Bicuspid Bicuspid Molar Molar Bicuspid Bicuspid Molar Molar
Hanson +12 +8 -7 -7 -7 -10 -10 Hanson +5 +3 -4 -4 -8 -24 -28
Regular (Roth) +12 +8 -2 -7 -7 -10 -10 Regular (Roth) -1 -1 -7 -11 -17 -24 -28
Medium (MBT) +17 +10 -7 -7 -7 -10 -10 Medium (MBT) -6 -6 -7 -11 -17 -24 -10
High +22 +14 +7 -7 -7 -10 -10 High -1 -1 +7 -11 -17 -24 -28
Figure 6 The Hills Dual-Geometry wire features a square anterior Figure 7 SPEED finishing arch wire has a 1/4 round shape, which
portion for torque control and a rounded polished posterior to facilitates arch wire insertion, spring closure and is highly effec-
enhance sliding mechanics. tive in torque control.
Level and align - Severely crowded cases 0.016 Supercable 0.016 Supercable
Initiate or continue to level and align 0.018 Supercable 0.018 Supercable
Continue to level and align 0.020 Supercable
Develop arch form 0.016 or 0.018 nickel-titanium 0.018 or 0.020 nickel-titanium
Start torque and enhance arch form 0.016 x 0.022 nickel-titanium 0.017 x 0.022 SPEED nickel-titanium
Increase torque and arch form 0.017 x 0.022 SPEED nickel-titanium 0.020 x 0.025 SPEED nickel-titanium
Initiate sliding mechanics 0.018 x 0.018 HILLS Dual-Geometry
Differential sliding mechanics 0.018 x 0.018 HILLS Dual-Geometry 0.021 x 0.021 HILLS Dual-Geometry
Artistic bends and final detailing 0.017 x 0.022 TMA 0.019 x 0.025 TMA or Force 9
Final torque and arch form 0.017 x 0.022 SPEED Steel 0.020 x 0.025 SPEED Steel
A
Figure 8A Space closure using maxillary 0.021x 0.021x 0.020 and mandibular 0.018x 0.018x 0.018 Hills Dual Geometry arch
wires, continuous elastomeric power chain and inter-maxillary 2 ounce 3/16" elastics. Maxillary molars bonded with SPEED ER
(enhanced retention) bracket.
B
Figure 8B Significant space closure following four months of sliding mechanics. The dual arch dimension of the Hills wire great-
ly enhances posterior space closure while maintaining anterior torque control.
Clinical Case with the SPEED Appliance
Non-extraction treatment of a 12y 7m old patient with a Class III skeletal open-bite pattern, a steep mandibular plane angle and
maxillary crowding (A-I). Initial bonding (J-N) and placement of .016 maxillary and .018 mandibular Supercable arch wires. Arch
alignment and maxillary molar distalization mechanics (O1, P1) on .018 D-wire and addition of anterior compressed coil springs
(O2, P2). Segmental .016 Supercable arch wire to engage lateral incisor brackets (O3, P3) prior to alignment with main arch wire
(P4). Final detailing and torque control with .019 x .025 Force 9 arch wire (P5) before completion of treatment (Q-Y). This case clear-
ly illustrates how the SPEED appliance, with its precise 3-dimensional control, may be utilized to effectively manage complex cases
such as that of a growing patient with an adverse skeletal growth pattern.
A B C
D E F
G H I
J K L
M N
O1 O2 O3
P1 P2 P3
P4 P5
Q R S
T U V
W X Y
13. Berger JL The influence of the SPEED bracket's self-ligated
Summary design on force levels in tooth movement: A comparative in vitro
study. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1990; 97:(3):219-28.
The SPEED appliance is the product of over 25 years of
design refinement dating back to its original invention by 14. Shivapuja PK, Berger JL A comparative study of convention-
Dr. G. Herbert Hanson in the early 1970’s. Reflecting orig- al ligation and self-ligation bracket systems. Am J Orthod
Dentofacial Orthop 1994; 106:(5):472-80
inal design goals, which included greater patient comfort,
decreased treatment time and reduced operator time, 15. Berger JL, Byloff F, Waram T Supercable and the SPEED
SPEED has acted as a catalyst for the recent emergence of System. J Clin Orthod 1998; 32:(4): 246-53
similar and alternative self-ligating designs. The highly
miniaturized SPEED appliance differs from other self-ligat-
ing brackets by its light, continuous-acting nickel titanium
spring clip. This permits great precision and control of tooth
movement, throughout treatment, in an environment of pre-
dictably low friction.
REFERENCES
3. Wildman AJ, Hice TL, Lane IF, Strauch EC Jr. Round table –
the Edgelok bracket. J Clin Orthod 1972:6:613-33