Choosing the Best Orthodontic Supplies for Your Practice

Orthodontic treatment can be life-changing for your patients. It is important to make sure that you are using orthodontic supplies that assist you in providing your patients with top-tier treatment. Today, we’re breaking down choosing the best orthodontic supplies for your practice.

Orthodontic Brackets

When choosing the orthodontic brackets that you will use for your patients’ treatment, durability, comfort, efficacy, and aesthetics are among some of the key deciding factors. Two of the most popular options for orthodontic brackets are metal and hybrid resin.

Metal Brackets

Metal brackets provide optimum fit and bond strength, helping you avoid debonding issues and broken brackets. Gone are the days of “sharp” or uncomfortable metal brackets; smooth and rounded edges ensure that your patients will be as comfortable as possible.

An integrated vertical scribe line enables accurate placement, ensuring efficacy, durability, and aesthetics.

In the past, metal brackets were widely considered to be the most durable, though don’t be fooled; modern resin orthodontic brackets are designed to be extremely durable, as well.

Hybrid Resin Brackets

Hybrid resin brackets are fracture and stain-resistant. This type of bracket is ideal for your teen or adult patients that are looking for a more discreet appearance during orthodontic treatment; crystal-clear transparency provides your patients with the highly-coveted “invisible” look.

The unique “torque-in-base” feature provides better control over tooth movement. Hybrid resin has been examined to provide exceptional sliding mechanics. In fact, this type of bracket routinely outperforms stainless steel, PCA ceramics, and sapphire brackets in frictional sliding tests.

A mechanical locking base allows for simple bonding and debonding. Intelligent color-coding ensures easy identification.

Orthodontic Wires

Of course, the archwires you choose for treatment application have a significant effect on the outcome. When choosing the type of archwire to work with, it’s best to choose a material that moves the teeth quickly with minimal discomfort.

Stainless Steel Archwire

Stainless steel archwire accepts 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order bends. Stainless steel is highly durable, yet flexible enough to accept intricate bends without the risk of breaking.

When compared with other types of orthodontic archwire, stainless steel has been examined to exert the most force – and quickly dissipates that force. In turn, this may lead to more frequent adjustments; something to keep in mind.

Stainless steel orthodontic wires also provide exceptional sliding mechanics, as they create very minimal friction between bracket and wire.

Nickel Titanium Archwire

Nickel titanium archwire (NiTi) is widely recognized for its ability to support large elastic deflations, thanks to its superb range of flexibility. They are examined to possess superelastic qualities.

This type of orthodontic archwire remains constantly active, reducing the overall number of archwire changes needed throughout treatment. At room temperature, it is completely austenitic, and a smooth finish significantly reduces bracket friction.

NiTi wires allow a high degree of deflection without causing any deformation of the original archform specifications. Something to consider about nickel titanium archwire is that it can not be easily manipulated or formed by bending.

Thermal-Activated Archwire

Thermal archwire is flexible at room temperature, providing simple and easy ligation. The warmth of the mouth activates the wire and sets them into motion; exceptional activation force is created simply by exposure to body temperature.

The force levels that are produced are predictable, continuous, and light, even when exposed to great deflections. Ultimately, thermal archwire is well-known for providing excellent results and comfort for the patient throughout treatment.

This type of orthodontic archwire is ideal for patients with significant crowding and is beneficial for the early treatment of severe malocclusion.

Buccal Tubes

Buccal tubes are essential in ensuring that the archwires are held firmly in place throughout treatment. If you are looking to provide your patient with a more comfortable experience without sacrificing efficacy, buccal tubes may be a viable option.

In comparison to molar bands, buccal tubes are easy to maintain and pose less of a risk for the tooth structure over the course of treatment. They are also typically much more comfortable for the patient, especially when designed with a low profile.

Since buccal tubes are bonded to the tooth rather than enclosing it, the chance of debonding must be considered when approaching treatment. It is worth considering that they are more likely to debond if the patient chews hard, chewy, or sticky foods with the posterior teeth.

A risk of debonding is also present if the patient does not practice proper oral hygiene during their orthodontic treatment. For these reasons, buccal tubes are typically a viable option for adult patients, or for teen patients who understand the importance of properly caring for their teeth.

Safco Dental: Best Online Dental Supply Company

Elastomerics, orthodontic cements, springs, and more; Safco Dental has what you need to take your orthodontic treatment to the next level.

Here at Safco Dental, we are dedicated to providing the equipment and supplies you need to provide your patients with the top-tier care that they deserve.

For high-quality dental supplies, place your trust in Safco Dental. In addition to a wide range of orthodontic supplies and products, we proudly boast a massive inventory of essentials for general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, surgical dentistry, and more.

Do you have questions about the orthodontic supplies that we have to offer? Looking for some assistance in choosing the supplies that will best serve both your patients and your staff? Feel free to contact us anytime.

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