User:Globalorthodontist/Orthodontic bracket

Orthodontic bracket are square shaped brackets which are used in Orthodontics field.

Bracket slot (0.022 vs 0.018)
Orthodontic brackets can be found with two slots: 0.022 x 0.028 inches or 0.018 x 0.25 inches. In early 1920s, Edward Angle introduced the rectangular 0.022in slot for his rectangular gold wires. However, in 1930s steel wire alloys started making their way into everyday orthodontics and a transition to smaller steel wire was seen. In 1952, Cecil C. Steiner designed a bracket with 0.018 slot. In late 1970s, Andrews and Ronald Roth developed the straight-wire technique and worked with 0.022 slot for their own prescriptions.

0.018 slot
This type of slot has its own pros and cons. The pros of this slot are
 * Light forces
 * Finishing bends on a more flexible wire
 * More effective use of closing loops on more flexible archwire
 * Less inventory of wires
 * Higher torque expression with less slop in a 0.018 slot. When using a 0.022 slot, orthodontist barely use a 21x25 wire and thus do not express the full torque expression. It is easier to use a 17x25 wire on an 0.018 slot expecially in cases with lateral incisors which lingual root position.

0.022 slot
This type of slot has its pros and cons.

Bi-dimensional Technique
The bidimensional technique was developed by Anthony Gianelly. It is a type of technique where two different bracket slots are used in the mouth. An 0.018 slot is used on central and lateral incisors and an 0.022 slot is used on canines, premolars and molars. A wire such as 18x25 can allow a tight fit in the anterior brackets with the 0.018 slot and a loose fit in the posterior teeth with a 0.022 slot. Posteriorly, this allows less friction to be involved which leads to better sliding mechanism. There is about 0.004in slop between the posterior brackets and wire.

Anthony Gianelly described the bidimensional technique steps to be: Proponents of bi-dimensional technique use this system for a better torque control in the anterior teeth, with sliding mechanics friendly space closure due to posterior
 * Alignment and leveling
 * Canines retraction
 * Space closure or front teeth retraction
 * Refinement