Article
The elimination of pain and discomfort is a major goal in orthodontic treatment. When using a 0.022″ × 0.028″ bracket slot, a working archwire of 0.019″ × 0.025″ or even 0.0215″ × 0.025″ dimensions may be required during treatment. The removal of such archwires, particularly stainless steel archwires, from molar tubes, may be rather difficult if a traditional ‘pulling’ force is applied to the archwire. The archwire often seems reluctant to move, leading to quite considerable discomfort for the patient. This is particularly relevant when changing the surgical archwires in the early post-operative period in the orthognathic surgery patient.1
A simple method to remove the archwire without causing discomfort to the patient requires utilization of the concept of leverage. Having made sure that the archwire is not cinched or kinked in any way, Weingart pliers are placed on the archwire between the terminal molars, or between the terminal molar and premolar (Figure 1a). The pliers act as a lever arm with the pivot point being the embrasure between the teeth. While gripping the archwire firmly, the clinician moves the pliers mesially in an arc-type motion, gently ‘pushing’ the archwire out of the buccal tubes (Figure 1b). The action is repeated until the archwire is free from the tubes.
