Choosing a pre-adjusted orthodontic appliance prescription for anterior teeth

A common orthodontic task is to correct anterior tooth position using brackets whose torque, tip and in-out are pre-adjusted. Bracket prescription greatly influences final aesthetics and function. Pre-adjusted orthodontic brackets have in-built prescriptions of torque, tip and in-out which are optimized for average cases. Refinement of tooth position can be achieved by archwire adjustment or archwire auxiliaries. Modifications to bracket position such as inversion can also help achieve individual tooth movements. Planning bracket position must be considered at the outset of treatment to achieve the maximum benefit. A number of clinical scenarios will be discussed including: a Class II division 1 malocclusion with lateral incisors palatally displaced, and another case with absent lateral incisors for space closure. Also, Class III malocclusions with consideration given to: canine angulation; a palatally displaced canine requiring labial movement; absent upper central incisors (space closure), and finally, a Class III case where incisor inclination requires consideration. By using a typodont to illustrate some of the points, this article aims to (1) show how three pre-adjusted orthodontic bracket systems (Andrews, Roth and MBT) vary significantly in their ability to influence tooth position and appearance; (2) inform clinicians how modified bracket position can influence tooth position.