Effortless canine up-righting with super elastic round wire

Abstract

Addressing dental irregularities and discrepancies in tooth size and arch length often involves intricate decision-making in planning orthodontic treatment for permanent teeth. Ensuring precise alignment of the dental crown's longitudinal axis is crucial for stability and achieving a balanced bite. In the past, orthodontists had to incorporate specific bends in the arch wire to achieve accurate tooth movements. However, with the introduction of the pre-adjusted edgewise appliance (PEA) it was thought to reduce the need for these complex wire manipulations, saving valuable time for clinicians. Rectangular NiTi and stainless-steel wires, along with specific auxiliaries, are commonly employed by orthodontists to correct tilted canines during the levelling and alignment phase, particularly when dealing with issues related to tip and torque using the built-in features of the PEA. Nonetheless, there are instances where these inherent features may prove insufficient due to mechanical inefficiency, prompting the utilization of auxiliary methods to rectify such issues. This article proposes a novel approach - the insertion of super elastic NiTi wire in the ribbon arch mode - to effectively rectify a tilted canine.