Resin pad thickness in conventional and in plain wire lingual systems: a comparative study.

The purpose was to compare resin pad thickness in conventional and plain wire lingual systems, considering archwire form. Resin pads were smaller in plain wire for all studied teeth, except canines and second premolars; which provide better torque control. Archwire was flat/square in anterior region for plain wire system.

O Sistema Orapix e a técnica de arco reto lingual / The Orapix System and the lingual straight wire technique

A técnica ortodôntica lingual representa uma escolhaestética e efetiva para o tratamento das más-oclusões, tendo controlebiomecânico satisfatório. Nos últimos anos houve um considerável progressoem termos técnicos e tecnológicos, nas formas de abordagens,nos materiais, em relação aos braquetes linguais e aos sistemas deposicionamento destes. Neste contexto, o Sistema Orapix traduz umainteressante inovação técnica porque permite a aplicação do conceitode arco reto, com possibilidade de utilização de qualquer tipo de braquetelingual e com completa eliminação da necessidade de dobrascompensatórias nos arcos durante o tratamento ortodôntico. O pontomais importante neste sistema é o correto e preciso posicionamentode braquetes, para que seja possível se alcançar a excelência deresultados na prática clínica. O presente artigo teve a proposição deapresentar detalhadamente o Sistema Orapix e sua tecnologia digital;descrevendo passo a passo os procedimentos necessários para viabilizarsua utilização e mostrando também suas vantagens principais.

The lingual orthodontic technique presents an aestheticaland effective choice for the malocclusion's treatment, with biomechanicalcontrol. In the last years there was a great progress in technicaland technology, ways of the approaches, materiais, lingual bracketsand systems for bracket positioning. In this context, the Orapix systemtranslates an interesting innovation around technological parametersbecause permits the application of the straight wire concept with anytype of brackets, with complete elimination of the necessity for compensatorybends in archwires. The most important point in this systemis the accurated bracket positioning, reaching the real excellence forthe clinical practice. In this way, the present article has the purposeto present with details the Orapix digital technology, describing stepby step the necessary procedures to make possible its utilization andshowing its main advantages.

O sistema orapix e a técnica do arco reto em ortodontia lingual: tecnologia e precisão / The orapix system and the straight-wire technique in lingual orthodontics: technology and precision

A técnica ortodôntica lingual representa uma escolha estética e efetiva para o tratamento das más oclusões, tendo controle biomecânico satisfatório. Nos últimos anos, houve um considerável progresso — em termos técnicos e tecnológicos, nas formas de abordagem e nos materiais — em relação aos braquetes linguais e sistemas de posicionamento desses. Nesse contexto, o sistema Orapix traduz uma interessante inovação técnica porque permite a aplicação do conceito de “arco reto”, com possibilidade da utilização de qualquer tipo de braquetes linguais e com completa eliminação da necessidade de dobras compensatórias nos arcos durante o tratamento ortodôntico. O ponto mais importante nesse sistema é o correto posicionamento de braquetes, para se alcançar a excelência de resultados na prática clínica. O presente artigo tem a proposição de apresentar detalhadamente o sistema Orapix e sua tecnologia digital, descrevendo passo a passo os procedimentos necessários para viabilizar sua utilização, evidenciando suas principais vantagens.

Clinical advantages of the Orapix-straight wire lingual technique.

This paper outlines the clinical advantages of the lingual straight wire technique using the Orapix digital system. With this technique, incisor brackets can be positioned very close to the lingual surfaces thus enabling enhanced three-dimensional control. The elimination of wire bends facilitates space closure and reduces chair time. Combining the high precision available with the system and the use of customized archwires, teeth are moved gradually towards the ideal position as defined on the virtual set-up by each user.

Oral comfort, function and hygiene in patients with lingual brackets. A prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Oral comfort, speech, mastication and swallowing, as well as oral hygiene were to be evaluated in a prospective longitudinal study before and after insertion of lingual brackets. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 22 patients (five male, 17 female, mean age 34.7 years, SD 10.4) were enrolled in the study and filled in a standardized questionnaire directly before placement of lingual brackets (T0), within 24 hours thereafter (T1), and 3 months (+/- 1 week) later (T2). At both T1 and T2, treatment was confined to the upper arch. RESULTS: In comparison with T0, significantly poorer results were recorded at T2 for the parameters "restriction of the tongue space", "lesions to the tongue", "tongue position", "subjective and semiobjective rating of articulation", "chewing", "biting" and "oral hygiene", although significant improvements, i.e. adaptations, had been recorded from T1 to T2 with the exception of the parameters "tongue space", "tongue position", "chewing", "biting" and "oral hygiene". At none of the registration timepoints was fluid intake impaired by the lingual brackets. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that detailed briefing on the extent and duration of potential impairments in oral comfort, functions and hygiene is advisable prior to the insertion of lingual brackets.

Evaluation of the parameters underlying the decision by adult patients to opt for lingual therapy: an international comparison.

BACKGROUND: The present study is the first instance of patients having been questioned on the criteria applied in their decision for therapy with lingual brackets and on the sources of information available to them within the framework of an international comparison prior to the start of therapy by means of a standardized questionnaire. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 68 patients (19 male, 49 female; mean age 32.4 years, range 19.8 to 60.0 years, SD 9.7) were interviewed. RESULTS: Therapy with lingual brackets was more important to the patients in the present study for professional than for private reasons: The further the patients were from the typical "braces age", the more important was treatment with an invisible appliance from the professional standpoint. The patients' educational level had no influence on the decision for a fixed lingual appliance. There was no significant difference between the German and the French patients in the decision-making criteria of adult patients and the sources of information available to them in the context of the lingual technique. CONCLUSION: The information available through the media on the lingual technique is inadequate in both countries.

Speech performance in lingual orthodontic patients measured by sonagraphy and auditive analysis.

Esthetically appealing, externally invisible, lingually applied orthodontic brackets are in increasing demand. Because the brackets are placed lingually, however, they appear to cause some problems with respect to speech. This study is the first to present a prospective evaluation of the articulation of 23 patients with lingual brackets by means of an innovative combination of test methods. An acoustic, objective evaluation of articulation measured by digital sonagraphy was related to a semiobjective auditive evaluation by 10 speech professionals, to a semiobjective auditive evaluation by close contacts of the patients, and to a subjective auditive evaluation by the patients themselves, the latter 2 using standardized questionnaires. The tests were performed before (T1), within 24 hours after (T2), and 3 months (+/- 1 week) after (T3) the start of therapy. In comparison with the initial findings, a significant deterioration in articulation was recorded with all test methods at T2 and T3. Using a new combination of methods, our investigations show the need for detailed briefing of patients about the extent and duration of changes in speech resulting from lingual brackets.