Fixed Orthodontic

In Orthodontia they use fixed pieces in the oral cavity, so the patient can not take them off. They are combined with other types of orthodontics and any movement can be done with them. They sue continuous forces, thus more dangerous for the teeth, and therefore there must be a careful patient control.

There are many techniques of fixed orthodontia, the most used techniques since a few years ago and still used till these days are the Begg technique and the arch on its side apparatus, but due to the new materials, especially the nickel titanium wires, and the treatment system of most specialists has changed. The technique that is now taking the lead for its simplicity is the “straight wire”.

Elements used in fixed orthodontic:

– Space maintainers
– Bands
– Braces
– Wires
– Metallic and elastic bonds
– Elastics and elastomer chains
– Bonding and bottoms
– Extra oral apparatus

The ones that will support the wires and other elements fixed in the mouth are the bands and braces.

The Straight wire was created by Dr. Larry Andrews. The treatment can be started with movable or functional orthodontia, but we’ll always be rotating pieces, radial torque, extrusion, intrusion, leveling and aligning with fixed orthodontic.

Space maintainers

To place bands, we must defeat the contact point of the dental pieces that’s why dentists use metallic bonds or plastic mainteiners. After 24 hours we get the maximum separation, which is the double of the band’s size.

Bands

They are arc-shaped metallic elements that are pasted over the molars. Formerly, they used to be placed on each dental piece, but nowadays they only paste over the molars with glass ionomers. The bands are made from laminated steel and come in different shapes and numbers (1-32), so they are no longer made at dental laboratories.

Superior and inferiors bands

The inner side of the bands is matte and the external one is plain. The superior bands use to have three holes and the inferiors ones, two, they are aimed at supporting active and passive wires. Wires are placed inside the central hole of the superior band and inside the superiors’ hole of the inferior band. They may have tubes to join together dental devices.