Phase V - Finishing

Finishing is the fifth phase in orthodontic treatment. Finishing involves many processes that are designed to produce a stable and esthetic result of orthodontic treatment.

The various phases of finishing include:

• Root paralleling - insures that all to the teeth are evenly spaced within the bony support.
• Incisor torque - insures that the front teeth are angled out of the mouth slightly.
• Correction of vertical relationships - insures that the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth.
• Correction of midlines - insures that sure the middle of the upper front teeth are directly in line with the lower front teeth.
• Settling - a process whereby the teeth adjust to their new biting arrangement.

The goal of finishing is to produce teeth that are aligned in the most ideal configuration. Finishing aims to align teeth as follows:

With the proper orthodontic technique, your patient's teeth will move to result in the following configuration:

The process of finishing is accomplished by using many different techniques. One technique is incisor torque. Incisor torque provides the incisors with the proper angulation. Incisor torque is accomplished by adjusting the angulation of a tooth without any bodily movement. Incisor torque requires a wire with the following specification relative to space closure:

                         higher strength
                         higher stiffness
                         lower range

Shape:

Would you prefer a round or a rectangular wire?
Answer: A twisted rectangular wire allows you produce a couple that would produce rotation of the tooth with no bodily movement and produce the proper incisor angulation.

Size:

Note:
     Nomograms allow you to compare many wires of different shapes, sizes, and compositions to each other.

Phase VI - Retention

Which wire would work best for this phase?
A.) 19 X 25 SS
B.) 17 X 25 SS
C.) 19 X 25 B-Ti

Retention

The final phase of orthodontic treatment is retention. Since teeth have been moved to correct a dental malocclusion, teeth can also move to reproduce the same malocclusion if preventive measures are not taken. The goal of retention is to stabilize the new configuration of the teeth so that the teeth do not move back to their original position or relapse.

Retention is necessary because a period of time is needed for the bone around the teeth to finish remodeling and stabilize the teeth. Retention is accomplished by use of a retainer that simply holds the teeth in position for the duration of time require for the PDL and bone to stabilize. The PDL and bone require approximately 12 months for stabilization.

Retention is a special phase of orthodontic treatment because the goal of retention is to prevent movement not create movement. Retention requires a wire with the following specification relative to finishing:

                         highesr strength
                         highest stiffness
                         lowest range

Shape:

Would you prefer a round or a rectangular wire?
Answer: A round wire is preferred because no twisting movement is desired.

Which wire would work best for this phase?
A.) 20 X 20 SS
B.) 30 SS
C.) 20 X 20 B-TI D.) 30 B-TI
E.) 20 X 20 NiTi
F.) 30 NiTi

Post/Pre Treatment

Retention allows you to maintain that now beautiful smile!!