Tricks of the Trade

Optimization of orthodontic bond strength to defective enamel

A medically fit and well 9-year-old child was assessed within the orthodontic department after being referred by their dentist for unerupted maxillary permanent central incisors. The patient had...

A modified tweezer for stable open coil spring placement

To modify a simple cotton-holding tweezer, grind the sharp ends using a carborundum disc mounted on a handpiece (Figure 1) until the desired length is flattened. A vertical groove with a depth of 2 mm...

Quadhelix for easy derotation of molars

Adjustments to the mobile intra-oral arch removable quadhelix (Figure 1) demonstrate how to derotate an upper right first molar. A clinical case illustrates how these adjustments can be used to...

A trick to make the pontic stick

To counteract these problems with pontics, the following clinical tip is proposed..

Aesthetic and custom-made interim space maintainers

An 11-year-old patient was referred from a regional dental hospital paediatric department to the orthodontic department at Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, with replacement resorption of the UR1...