Light wire auxiliaries with pre-adjusted edgewise appliance to control individual incisor torque

Abstract

Torque control of individual incisors using pre-adjusted edgewise (PAE) appliance is a common clinical challenge. In order to overcome the inherent disadvantages of the PAE appliance in efficiency of torque delivery, the use of light wire auxiliaries for early control of the roots of the instanding tooth in the alignment stage itself has been described using the case report. A case of an 18-year-old female patient with the chief complaint of irregularly placed upper front teeth has been described. Treatment was carried out by extraction of four premolars and the resolution of crowding and the incorporation of light wire auxiliaries with PAE appliance has been described. For the alignment of 42 which was lingually displaced, and to bring it into the arch by bodily displacement rather than labial tipping, a LIght wire auxiliary (Mollenhauer aligning auxiliary) was used in conjunction with PAE appliance. The biomechanical advantages of the procedure have been highlighted. The use of light wire auxiliaries have definite advantages and hence should be a part of our armamentarium to handle such cases. Light wire auxiliaries offer us a biomechanically superior and economical alternative to apply torque forces on incisors.