MAK Bends and MAK Stops: An Innovative Way to put Bends and Stops in NiTi Archwires

Abstract

Introduction : It is difficult to bend NiTi wire because of its shape memory properties. Although prefabricated NiTi archwires, such as the Connecticut Intrusion Arch or utility archwire are available, there is no simple, economic method available to incorporate first or second order bends in NiTi wires. Similarly there is no simple, economic and reliable method available to place stops in NiTi archwires. A simple creative method of using sterile disposable surgical needle segments as archwire stops (Makhija, Abhishek, Kamna or MAK stops) and archwire bends (MAK bends) is demonstrated. These may be adapted as custom stops and bends in NiTi archwires for fabricating intrusion, extrusion, expansion and distalization archwires. Materials and methods: Fresh unused, sterile, disposable,18 to 23 gauge surgical needles are segmented using a diamond cutting disk to use as crimpable stops (MAK stops), stops of varying length may also be bent with optical pliers to incorporate bends in NiTi wires (MAK bends). Conclusion: MAK stops and MAK bends are simple, easy and an economical chairside method to incorporate a range of applications which, overcome some of issues with formability of NiTi wires.