Begg and straight wire: a combination approach to treatment

Orthodontic appliances should be designed to satisfy goals for denture, patient, and doctor. An appliance that is able to achieve these goals more closely approaches the ideal treatment system. Analysis of appliances of the Begg and straight wire types indicates that each treatment system has significant advantages and that the advantages of one system frequently are the disadvantages of the other. A technique that uses both the tipping principles of Begg and the bodily movement principles of the straight wire type of appliance has been designed and clinically evaluated. The unique capability of the combined treatment approach is in the mechanical design of the new combination four-stage bracket. A description of the appliance and the technique, as well as a clinical case presentation, is included in this article.