Abstract
The edgewise appliance was first described over 80 years ago and has developed into a highly sophisticated technique to achieve ideal orthodontic treatment results. Bracket systems, wires and other supplies are now prefabricated, making the task of straightening teeth less tedious. From these, clinicians can pick and choose which combination is ideal for their armentarium. However, there is a tendency to regard these appliances as being almost foolproof, and there are certain situations where recourse to the techniques used in the original standard edgewise appliance are necessary. These will be outlined and described in this and two subsequent articles.