The Bonding of Orthodontic Appliances

Ofer Sarne, D.M.D.,Israel

www.lingualnews.com Vol 1 No 2, March 2003

The bonding of orthodontic brackets has become a routine procedure in fixed appliance therapy since the 1970's. Now days, the use of bands is becoming minimal and in many offices the use of bonded lower tubes is now a routine. Bands are still in use when heavy forces are about to be use (Headgear, Lip bumper, Face mask etc.).

For intra oral appliances such as Nance holding arch, quad helix and tongue guards, the use of bonding procedure should be considered, to avoid the use of bands. The bonding solution is especially favorable for adult cases, in which bands can irritate and harm the gingivae,

Instead of soldering the lab wire to a band, that part adjacent to the tooth should be flattened to fit the tooth contour and then sandblasted (Fig 1). This part is then bonded to the tooth in a regular manner using heavily filled composite. In cases where positive and definite seat is hard to achieve, an auxiliary wire with or without an acrylic seat can be added.

Fig 1 : The flattened arm is bonded to the tooth surface with composite material

Another method is the use of mesh pad (the same that are attached to steel brackets) as the intimate part to the tooth. These meshes have to be soldered carefully to the main wire (Fig 2,3).

Fig 2 : The meshes have to be carefully soldered to the main wire

Fig 3 : The mesh pad soldered to the main wire

www.lingualnews.com 
Adult and Lingual Orthodontics
EDITORS:
Dr. Silvia Geron D.M.D., M.Sc
Dr. Rafi Romano D.M.D., M.Sc
Dr. Pablo Echarri D.M.D., M.Sc