Page 107 - REMOVABLE ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES

Chairside management 99
Figure 10.16 A small bur hole
in the anterior bite plane may be
used to locate one point of a pair
of dividers, (a) Measure in the
mouth, (b) Measure with the
appliance out of the mouth to
assess the activation of the
flexible labial bow.

holding the loop in the pliers and flexing the
bow mesial to them (Figure 10.17). Some oper-
ators find that a pair of concave/convex beaked
pliers is useful for this. With either method it
will be necessary to re-adjust the vertical height
of the labial wire because closure of the loops
will cause this to move occlusally. If the incisors
are notably proclined this occlusal movement
during activation may be welcome, as it will
combat the tendency of the labial bow to slide
up toward the gingivae. It may also be neces-
sary to flex the loops inward or outward as
required to avoid trauma to the alveolus or lip
respectively'.

Light wires
Figure 10.17 Closure of a 'U' loop bow moves the
Light wires such as the apron spring and
bow incisally. A second adjustment is necessary to
Roberts' retractor again need activation on bring the bow onto the correct position on the labial
each side. The wire should be gripped near to face of the incisors.