Employing Bends in Everyday Orthodontic Mechanics
Purpose:
- To develop wire bending skills in support of Straight Wire Orthodontic treatment.
Instruments & Material Needed (Prior to Start of Class):
- Arch Marker
- Bird Beak Plier
- Heavy Duty Wire Cutter
Materials Provided:
- .032 Stainless Steel Straight Wire
Directions:
- In this exercise, the objective is to practice making multiple planned bends in a typical .032 Stainless Steel archwire (used in the construction of many orthodontic appliances).
- “Plan your work and work your plan!”
- You will draw, on a piece of paper, your initials or name in the actual size and outline that you will then use as a template to guide you as you bend the wire to reflect your template design and bend your name.
- RULES: YOU CAN’T CROSS BACK OVER YOUR WIRE AND IT HAS TO LAY FLAT ON THE TABLE WHEN FINISHED! This will help you learn to control your plier and your bends.
- First, draw out your name or initials as a design for your wire bending exercise.
- Make sure your design gives you round turns and bends that stay between 45° and 90° due to the difficulty in making really acute bends in heavy
- Using an Arch Marker, start marking where the curves or bends will take place.
- Continue to contour the wire to match your drawing.
- Place on the page to make sure you are staying in the same plane, (laying flat on the page) and to mark each bend and check the previous one.
- At the end of the exercise, your wire should lay precisely over your template drawing.
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