What do bends in the archwires do?

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#1 Post by **bracieb** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:39 am

I did a search, but didn't turn up any obvious answers. They are probably buried in this forum somewhere, as I am not the only one to ask, but...

What are the little u-shaped bends in the archwire supposed to do and how does it work? I get the idea that it somehow increases the pressure on the teeth, but how?

I have one bend each over the canines on top, but the wires are not connected to the top teeth, except for the three front teeth the ortho is trying to pull out toward the lip. My lips get stuck on these darned bends, too- but not as much after the tech bent them in a bit.

Just curious.

#2 Post by **SDFD TSchott** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:59 am

Not sure if this will help, but this is all I found on the internet so far.

bends -

first order Offsets in the arch wire to accommodate the labiolingual and buccolingual thickness of teeth or to produce horizontal forces.

second order Offsets in the archwire in the vertical plane for tipping and uprighting teeth.

third order A twist in a rectangular arch along the long axis of the archwire producing torque.

gable,tent bends Bends to upright teeth at extraction sites.

"V"bends Place to mark, solder or twist wire or activate tooth movement.

~Tim~

#3 Post by **FlyingScotsman** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:00 am

Hmmm, I'm not sure what they could be...

Unless it's the hooks for elastics you're talking about?

#4 Post by **Lisa65** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:51 am

Could you post a pic?

#5 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat May 05, 2007 10:36 am

are they "closing loops"?

I agree, a picture would be really helpful for this one.

#6 Post by **bracieb** » Sun May 06, 2007 5:42 pm

hmmmm.... none of the above..... my bends are quite large in comparison to those pictured.

They are bends with the open side down, the size of a ceramic bracket, right over the brackets on my canines. They are not held in with ligs, but sit right over the bracket. The teeth he is trying to move ARE held in by ligs- and there are only 3 of those.

Sigh. I will try to post a pic. That means I have to figure out how to do that, and find a site that will work. My daughter has a spot at photobucket that seems to work, I'll try that.

I'll be back.

#7 Post by **bracieb** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:48 pm

Thanks, Meryaten!

I'm going to try this,and if itdoesn't work, I'll get you to help me!

I just joined photobucket andmy fingers are crossed.

This is how my teeth look now. I had to edit heavily as seeing my pores the size of the original image was too shocking, and I had to breathe for a bit

There are just some things we don't need to see!

#8 Post by **bracieb** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:54 pm

Well! Would you look at that! It worked!

I am so used to seeing my teeth in a mirror-- they look all wrong, and I can see an elastic has slipped. I'll post the pics of my arches, seeing as I am on a roll wtih this thing.

and

The lower brackets will go on when the upper teeth are pulled out enough not to break off the brackets.

You never think your teeth are so awful until you see them like this!

#9 Post by **Lisa65** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:11 am

I wonder if they are intended as some kind of opening loop? You said that those front 3 teeth are being brought forward so that you don't bite off the bottom brackets. Well I wonder if the bends are acting as a spring (the"memory" wire will want to go back to its original straight shape, and will thereby push the front teeth forward?)

I might be talking rubbish, but that's all I can think of.

#10 Post by **bracieb** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:37 pm

You are probably right, Lisa65. I'll ask in a couple of weeks when I go in next, and finally come home with that inside bottom wire and have to learn to eat all over again, AGAIN.

#11 Post by **rsprouse** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:39 pm

I wonder if they are intended as some kind of opening loop? You said that those front 3 teeth are being brought forward so that you don't bite off the bottom brackets. Well I wonder if the bends are acting as a spring (the"memory" wire will want to go back to its original straight shape, and will thereby push the front teeth forward?)

I might be talking rubbish, but that's all I can think of.

Looks correct, they are likely for distalizing the posterior portion of the arch in this case.

Best
Rory

#12 Post by **Lisa65** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:18 am

woohoo - a lucky guess