The components used to provide orthodontic treatments and to construct orthodontic devices, orthodontic materials are used in specialty orthodontic practices as well as general practices that provide orthodontic services. These materials are used to plan and provide treatments for malocclusions, and often these materials are used in the fabrication of an orthodontic appliance. The materials required for an orthodontic case depend largely on the clinical situation and the treatment plan being pursued, and it is not uncommon for some orthodontic materials to be ordered on a case by case basis. For this reason it makes sense practice for a practice to be well versed on what is available in order to offer the best options for its patients.
What Types of Orthodontic Materials are Available for My Practice
The orthodontic materials you will need in your practice will most often be determined by the specifics of the case being treated. If the treatment calls for an orthodontic appliance such as braces, you will want to have
arch wires,
bracket cement, and might want to consider
indirect bonding to make bracket placement more precise and efficient. Cases requiring bands or space maintainers will require you to have
space maintainers and
wires, or
space maintainer kits, and possibly
band cement. Major orthodontic and orthognathic treatments could require anchorage in either
screw or
miniplate form. Regardless of the appliance being created,
orthodontic stone for creating orthodontic models, and
orthodontic polishing materials for finishing appliances are materials that should be kept on hand.
How Do I Select Orthodontic Materials for My Practice?
Because the orthodontic materials you will need depend completely on the appliances and the treatments you plan to provide to patients, selecting materials can often be managed a case at a time. However, many orthodontic materials are designed to be used as a part of a system, so it is important to stay familiar with the available options and to try out new options and approaches so you remain ready to meet any orthodontic needs you encounter.
Search and Compare Orthodontic Materials