By

Dr. Nilofer
 The Straight Wire Appliance is conceptually
any fully programmed appliance. It was
initially designed by Lawrence F. Andrews,
D.D.S.

Dr. Andrews has engaged in independent

research, teaching, and publishing since 1960.
Research spanning ten years led to The Six
Key to Optimal Occlusion, quantifying the
tooth positions of naturally optimal
dentitions, and the Straight-Wire Appliance.
This information has been documented in a
text titled Straight Wire, The Concept and
Lawrence F Andrews Appliance (L. A. Wells, 1989).
Will Andrews
 1980's - 1990's research led to finding the Six
Elements of Orofacial Harmony. They are the
characteristics found to be shared by
individuals with both optimal occlusion and
balanced faces. They are proposed as optimal
goals for orthodontic treatment and as the
bases for a new correct classification system.
 1927 —Angle angulated brackets and tubes to
effect tipping movement. He also suggested to
angulate posterior brackets to produce desired
tooth movement.
 1952 —Holdaway angulated bracket on teeth
adjacent to extraction spaces to aid in
paralleling the roots and also used as a method
of setting up posterior anchorage unit into tip
back or anchorage prepare positions.
 Jarabak and Fizzel in 1960 demonstrated a
modified edgewise technique which
incorporated second (tip) and third order
(torque) mechanics in the appliance and they
called it ―building treatment into the
appliance‖
 In 1960 Lee developed a series pretorqued
brackets to be used on upper and lower
incisors to eliminate the need for adding torque
to the anterior part of the arch wire.
 In 1960s manufacturers raised the base of
lateral incisor to eliminate the need for lateral
offset bends.
 They also began to offer biangulated tube that
incorporated 10 degree torque as well as
rotational controls for the molars.
 Lawrence Andrews basically gave the straight wire
appliance because of the
 Inconsistencies in treatment results existing at the time.
 Extensive & elaborate wire bendings because each
bracket was the same but optimal positions differ for
most tooth types in a dentition.
 Edgewise was basically intended only for non-extraction
cases.
 with extraction the wire bendings required were even
more elaborate.
 At the same time disadvantages of Begg were
many namely
 Root recovery sometimes from extreme
angles were unfavourable.
 Inability to use rectangular archwires denied
accurate molar control and buccal segment
torque
The concept that an edgewise appliance could
be fully programmed evolved thru a series
of five steps by Andrews these includes:-
1)Examination of post treatment occlusion.

2)Study of naturally occurring optimal occlusion

from 120 normal samples.

3)Discovering the six characteristics that were

present in 120 normal samples.

4)Crown measurements in 120 samples,

5)Comparison of treated occlusion with normal
occlusion.
 On the hypothesis that naturally occurring optimal
occlusion would be worthy of evaluation,120 casts of
such dentition were collected based on the following
criteria:--
 Have never been subjected to orthodontic treatment.

 Are well aligned and pleasing in appearance.

 Appear to have excellent occlusion.

 Would not benefit from orthodontic treatment.

 It took 14 Research Projects to show to develop
this very popular appliance.

 One led to to the 6 key elements in optimum

occlusion.
 5 led to the concept of SWA
 8 research projects were designed to explain &
justify the concept.
 Andrews examined hundreds of post treatment
dental cast displayed by members of the
American board of orthodontics and the
Tweed foundation to assess the quality of
American orthodontics in terms of static
occlusion. consistently found features were:-
 Incisors were not rotated
 No cross bite or over jet
 Class I molar relationship
 Articulation of the occlusal surface of the teeth
were not proper.
 Long axis of the tooth on either side of the
extraction site were not always parallel.
 Variation of inclination and angulation among
patients treated by different orthodontists.
 The permanent 2nd molar were not routinely
included in the treatment.
 Interdental spaces existed frequently at
extraction sites and other locations and there
was no articulation of the dental cast to assess
the functional occlusion.
Study of Normal models
 The measurements which were made in this
study include –
 Vertical crown contour.
 crown inclination
 maxillary molar offset
 horizontal crown contour
 facial prominence of each crown
 Depth of curve of Spee
 The results of this were compared with
1150 treated cases.
 And unlike Angle’s conviction Orthodontia’s
best did not match Nature’s best.
 The basic feature of SWA is that the Slot planes
indirectly represent the planes of the crown’s.

 Tooth positions are referenced from the

crown’s facial axis and not the tooth/ crown’s
long axis as is the more traditional view.

 The main advantage is that it eliminates the

need for wire bends.
 However Wire forming is a procedure still
required here.
 Rectangular slot- narrow side towards the
incisal edge of tooth
 Two point contact
 Accepts rectangular arch wire - edgewise
 In/Out adjustments & finishing angulations of
tip &torque were given in the bracket itself
 Hence the requirement of bending the
finishing torque into the rectangular arch wire
was eliminated.
Objectives of Andrews basically was –
1. To minimize the variables
1. Bracket siting variables
2. Wire bending variables and side effects
2. To take advantage of similarities.
1. Similarities seen in patients
2. Similarities in wire bending for each patient and
every wire

Answer was not the wire, but the bracket

If correct tooth position was built into the bracket

 It removed the variables

 It removed wire bending side effects

 And it reduced the workload.

Andrews

1. No individual variation due to wire-bending

1. More consistent results

2. Easier to attain superior results

3. No side effects of wire bending – wagon wheel effect

2. Self limiting appliance – once wire is straight -
treatment stops
• No over treatment if patient misses an appointment

3. Straight wire is an indication of treatment goals

4. Easier to transfer cases

5. Better control of final position of teeth.

6. Better patient comfort.

7. Space closure with one set of wires.

8. Ease of ligation –tiewings away from gingiva.

9. Ease of bracket placement.

 Andrews Six Keys :

1. Molar inter arch relationship.

2. Mesiodistal crown.
3. Labiolingual crown inclination.
4. Absence of rotations.
5. Tight interproximal contacts.
6. Curve of spee.
The following terms are necessary for
discussing the six keys
 Terms of importance :
 Andrews Plane : The surface or plane on
which the midtransverse plane of every crown
in an arch will fall when the teeth are optimally
positioned
 The Clinical Crown : The amount of crown
that can be seen intra-orally or with a study
cast.
Orban’s def : Clinical crown is defined as
Anatomic crown minus 1.8 mm
Also in cases of recession it would be Crown
height upto CEJ minus 1.8 mm.
 Facial axis of the
clinical crown—
(FACC)-for all teeth
except molars ,the
most prominent
portion of the
central lobe on each
crown’s facial
surface.
For molars , it is the
buccal groove that
separates the two
large facial cusps.
 Facial axis
point -(FA)-
The point on
the facial axis
that separate
the gingival
half of the
clinical crown
from the
occlusal half.
 Crown Angulation :
This is evaluated
according to the line
formed by the facial axis
of the clinical crown
(FACC) and a line
drawn perpendicular to
the occlusal plane.
The Crown angulation is
considered positive if
the occlusal portion of
the FACC is mesial to
the gingival portion.
 Crown Inclination
The angle
between the line
perpendicular to the
occlusal plane and a
line that is parallel &
tangent to FACC at
its midpoint (the FA
point ).
If the occlusal
portion of the crown
is facial to its gingival
portion it is
considered as
positive.
 Tooth class —a group of teeth having similar
shape and function. classes are incisors ,
canines, premolars ,and molars.

 Tooth type —a subordinate category within a

class of teeth. Premolars are a class of teeth and
mandibular first premolar is a type and is
different from any other tooth type, such as
mandibular second premolar.
 INTER ARCH
RELATIONSHIPS
1. Angles Class I molar
relationship.
2. The distal marginal
ridge of the maxillary Ist
molar occludes with the
mesial marginal ridge of
the mandibular second
molar.
3. The mesiolingual cusp
of the maxillary Ist molar
occludes with the central
fossa of the mandibular Ist
molar.
4. The buccal cusps of the maxillary premolars
have cusp embrasure relationship with the
mandibular premolars
5. The lingual cusps of maxillary premolars
have a cusp embrasure relationship with the
mandibular premolars.
6. The Maxillary canine has a cusp embrasure
relationship with the mandibular canine & 1st
premolar with the tip slightly mesial.
7. The maxillary incisors overlap the
mandibular incisors and the midlines coincide
 1. Improper molar 2. Improved molar
relationship. relationship.

3. More improved 4. Proper molar

molar relationship. relationship.

Source : Six Keys To Normal Occlusion (AJO-DO Vol 62(3)

Key II Crown Angulation
 In general all the crowns have a positive
angulation.
 Crown angulation (tip). The gingival
portion of the long axes of
all crowns was more distal than the incisal
portion (Fig. 3).
 Crown tip is expressed in degrees, plus or
minus. The degree of crown tip is the
angle between the long axis of the crown
(as viewed from the labial or buccal
surface) and a line bearing 90 degrees
from the occlusal plane.
 A ―plus reading‖ is awarded when the
gingival portion of the long axis of the
crown is distal to the incisal portion. A
―minus reading‖ is assigned when the
gingival portion of the long axis of the
crown is mesial to the incisal portion,
  Why this MD tip is so very important can be
explained with the help of a rectangle.

A rectangle occupies much more Crown angulation (tip)-long axis of

mesiodistal width when tipped than crown measured from line 90 degrees
upright . to occlusion.
Normally occluded teeth demonstrate
gingival portion of crown more distal than
occlusal portion of crown.
Key III Crown Inclination
Consistent pattern of
 Most maxillary centrals having a positive
inclination and mandibular incisors having a
slight negative inclination . The crown of
maxillary incisors are more positively inclined
relative to a line 90 deg to the occlusal plane.
 The inclinations of premolar and molars is

more and more negative.

Crown inclination is determined by the resulting angle between a line
90 degrees to the occlusal plane and a line tangent to the middle of the
labial or buccal clinical crown.

Source AJO-DO Vol 62(6)

Spaces resulting from normally occluded posterior teeth and
insufficiently inclined anterior teeth are often falsely blamed
on tooth size discrepancy.
Tip Values 5 5 2 2 11 9 5

Torque

Torque

Tip Values 2 2 2 2 5 2 2
 Tip is the mesiodistal component whereas
torque is the labiolingual component.
 For every 4 deg lingual crown torque given
there is a mesiodistal tip of 1 deg i.e 1 deg of
mesial tip of the gingival portion of the crown.

Therefore 4 deg of lingual Crown torque = -1 deg Crown tip

 This phenomenon is aptly described by the

Wagon Wheel effect.
The wagon wheel. Anterior arch wire
torque negates arch wire tip in a ratio of
four to one.
 A mechanical problem can occur because of
this because if a lingual torque of 20 deg is
given to a central incisor then a negative -5 deg
convergence is seen near the gingival area
(tip:torque 1:5 )to combat this a +10 deg tip
would be given since we want a ultimate +5
deg tip.
 Key IV : Rotations
The fourth key to normal occlusion is that the
teeth should be free of undesirable rotations.
An example of the problem is seen in a
superimposed molar outline showing how the
molar, if rotated, would occupy more space
than normal, creating a situation unreceptive to
normal. occlusion.
 Key V : Tight Contacts
The fifth key is that the contact points should be
tight (no spaces). Persons who have genuine tooth-
size discrepancies pose special problems, but in the
absence of such abnormalities tight contact should
exist. Without exception, the contact points on the
nonorthodontic normals were tight.
 Key VI : Curve Of Spee
The planes of occlusion found on the non-orthodontic
normal models ranged from flat to slight curves of
Spee.
Even though not all of the non-orthodontic normal
cases had flat planes of occlusion, Andrew
believed that a flat plane should be a treatment
goal as a form of overtreatment.
There is a natural tendency for the curve of Spee to
deepen with time, for the lower jaw growth
downward and forward sometimes is faster and
continues longer than that of the upper jaw, and
this causes the lower anterior teeth, which are
confined by the upper anterior teeth and lips, to be
forced back and up. Resulting in crowded lower
anterior teeth and/or a deeper overbite and deeper
curve of Spee.
 At the molar end of the
lower dentition, the
molars (especially the
third molars) are
pushing forward, even
after growth has
stopped, creating
essentially the same
results.
 Intercuspation of teeth
is best when the plane
of occlusion is
relatively flat.
A deep curve of Spee results in a
more confined area for the ups
creating spillage of the upper teeth
progressively mesially and distally.

A flat occlusion is most receptive to

normal occlusion.

A reverse curve of Spee results

sive room for the upper teeth.
A reverse curve of Spee is an
 Few more points of importance :

Intercuspal position & retruded jaw position

/relation should be coincident.

Anterior guidance in mandibular protrusion

should be guided by the incisors . There should
be disocclusion of all other teeth..

Canine guidance Lateral movements of the

mandible should be guided by the working
side canines. There should be disocclusion of
all other teeth working/ nonworking side.
Cusp embrasure contact
The inter – cuspal position should be even
throughout both buccal segments.
 The Crown Measurements
 The 4th study that lead to development of the
first fully programmed appliance involved
thousands of measurements of the crowns in
120 samples.
 The purpose of this study was to learn the
extent to which position and in certain ways,
shape was constant within each tooth type ,
and how relative size was consistent within an
arch.
 The height and width of potential bracket area
on facial aspect of each crown.
 Vertical crown contour
 Crown angulation
 Crown inclination
 Horizontal crown contour
 Depth of the curve of spee.
 Maxillary molar offset
 Facial prominences of each crown
 When dentitions with naturally optimal
occlusions were compared with dentition
treated by orthodontists the following
conclusions were apparent:-
 Few of the post treatment results meet the six
keys standard.
 Treatment priorities and results of a given
orthodontist share characteristic features not
always observed in the results of other
orthodontists.
 A quarter century of clinical experience and
research devoted to naturally optimal and
treated occlusions has yielded not only the
quantified six key objectives for orthodontic
treatment but also several principles
fundamental to the fully programmed
appliance.
These principles are:-

 Each tooth type is similar in shape from one

individual to other.
 The size of the normal crowns within a
dentition has no effect on their optimal
angulation or inclination, or on the relative
prominences of their facial surface.
 Most individuals have normal teeth regardless
of whether their occlusion is flawed or optimal.
 Jaw must be normal and correctly related to
permit the teeth to be correctly positioned and
related.
 Dentition with normal teeth and in jaws that
are or can be correctly related can be brought to
optimal occlusal standards.
 The six keys are more readily attained with any
appliance when the clinician understands that
there are three arch lines and not just one and
each must be optimal for occlusion to be
optimal.
 These three arch lines are:-
 Core line
 Midsagittal line
 Perimeter line
 The arch core line is an
imaginary line that best
represents the length of the
dental arch at its core.
 It passes mesiodistally
through the center of each
crown whose alignment
conforms to the arch form.
it extends to the distal
surface of the last teeth in
each arch to be included in
the treatment.
 It is short when its length is
less than the sum of the
mesiodistal diameter of
normal crowns at their
contact points. And optimal
when it equals that sum.
 It is an imaginary line that best represent the
anteroposterior length of an arch.
 It is measured in the midsagittal plane of an
arch from the anterior limit of the core line to a
line connecting the most distal aspect of the
core line.
 The midsagittal line is optimal when the core
line’s length and form are optimal.
 The midsagittal line is short when the core line
is short or when the core line’s occlusogingival
or buccolingual form are incorrect.
 It is also an
imaginary line that
best represent the
length of the
occlusogingival
portion of the
dental arch.
 It is measured along
a line that connects
the most facial
points of the
occlusal surface of
the crowns that are
on the core line and
extends as far
distally as does the
core line.
 Inclination
 Angulation
 Rotation
 Mesiodistal position
 Labiolingual position
 Occlusogingival position
 Inter jaw relation
In the maxillary Inclination
arch the
perimeter line is
long when
incisors
inclination is
excessively
positive, optimal
when inclination
is moderately
positive and
short when
inclination is
negative.
In the mandibular
arch the
perimeter line is
long when the
incisors are
inclined
positively,
optimal when
inclination is
slightly negative,
short when
inclination is
excessively
negative.
Positively inclined
mandibular incisors
lengthen the
perimeter line,
causing the
posterior to have a
class II tendency if
the incisor interarch
relationship is
CLASS I and there
is no maxillary
interdental space.
Optimal
perimeter lines
occur when
maxillary
incisor
inclination is
moderately
positive and
mandibular
incisor
inclination is
slightly
negative.
 Angulation
The Angulation of maxillary incisors can affect the core,
midsagittal and perimeter lines.
If viewed buccally the mesial and distal ends of the
posteriors conform to the shape of a circle .Similarly when
viewed facially the lower incisors look like an isosceles
triangle. These particular teeth class and type if angulated
more or less than optimal wont affect the three arch lines.
However if the mesial and distal surface of the Maxillary
central incisor crowns are seen in the area of potential contact
then they are seen potentially as Trapezoids and when their
mesiodistal angulations are altered they change the arch
perimeter.
 The mesiodistal diameter of a maxillary central
incisor is approximately 0.15mm greater when
angulated 5 deg than at 0 deg.
 Similarly 0.25 mm for lateral incisors when
angulated at 9 deg.
 The core line is 0.8 mm less when the
maxillary incisors are upright than when they
are optimally angulated.

(Unpublished Study By L. Andrews. 1986 )

 Rotation First premolar, canine & incisors will
not affect immediately the arch core lines as
will the 2nd premolars, & molars.
 But rotated incisors may cause drift due to
broken contacts which would alter all 3 lines.

 If Second premolars/1st molars were rotated by

20 deg mesially the core line average was
increased by 0.268mm for second premolars
and0.317mm for 1st molars. (Unpublished
Study By L. Andrews. 1987 )
 Long arch lines occur when there are interdental
spaces assuming no missing teeth or tooth size
discrepancy.
 Changing this in the buccal segment affects the
core and the perimeter lines.
 Palate splitting will increase the core and
perimeter lines in the maxillary arch.
 Facial tipping of buccal segments will increase the
core and perimeter lines in either of the two arches.
 Lingual tipping will decrease core and perimeter
lines in both arches.
 Facial or lingual tipping of all four incisors will
affect all three arch lines..
 Change in occlusogingival height of an
isolated tooth will not affectthe arch lines
immediately.
 If the length of the Arch core line is correct but
the form is convex or concave ,the midsagittal
line will be short.
 With the same circumstances with adequate
interdental space for leveling the midsagittal
line would be correct.
 Inter Jaw Relationships
Class I JAW
presents the
full range of
alveolar bone
for attaining
optimal
incisor
inclination
and class I
incisors
A class III jaw
precludes
coincidental class I
incisors and
optimal inclination.
There is excessively
negative
mandibular
inclination
&excessively
positive maxillary
inclination ..causing
decreased arch
perimeter in lower Class I incisors Optimal incisor
& increased arch with incorrect inclination class III
perimeter in upper inclination relationship.
 Regardless of the etiology part of our job as
orthodontists is to correct the archlines by
correcting the tooth positions and interarch
relationships.
 Attaining optimal arch lines efficiently depend
greatly upon treatment strategies, which
includes goals, appliance selection and
prescription, bracket and slot sitting and
certain treatment procedures.
 Shortcomings of standard edgewise:-for tooth
movement not involving translation six factors
cause the slot of non programmed edgewise
brackets to be sited in ways that always require
arch wire bends.
 Each factor may cause the slot to be
misdirected by more than 2 degree from its
optimum angulation and inclination and by
more than 0.5mm, occlusogingivally,
mesiodistally, and faciolingually.
 Bracket bases are perpendicular to the bracket
stem.
 Bracket bases are not contoured
occlusogingivally
 Slots are not angulated
 Bracket stems are of equal faciolingual
thickness
 Maxillary molar offset is not built in.
 Bracket sitting techniques are unsatisfactory.
•Bracket bases are
perpendicular to
the bracket stem.
•The base of the non-
programmed bracket
is perpendicular to
the faciolingual axis
Cause problems of
slot siting &
occlusogingival
positioning.
Bracket bases are
not contoured
occlusogingivally
Slots are not
angulated
When such
bracket is being
attached to a crown
either directly or
with a band, it can
unintentionally be
rocked occlusally or
gingivally.
 In such cases additional compensatory bends
would have to be made in the arch wire.

 The potentioal inclination range that the

bracket can rock for each tooth is greater than 2
deg.
When the Base of the slot Is placed parallel to the FACC and the base point is affixed
correctly to the FA point the angle of the slots will vary to that many different
positions
The incomplete lines show the optimal position
 Stems of Equal Prominence :
The distance from the bracket base to the
center of the slot is same for each bracket .
Therefore the slots are not of equal
prominence.

 Maxillary Molar Offset Not Built In:

Since this is not given in the bracket itself we
have to incorporate it in the wire bending itself.
 Unsatisfactory Landmarks

 Just as the non programmed brackets have at

least six design shortcomings that affect the
accurate slot sitting, the land marks
traditionally used for sitting the bracket have
their own deficiency.
 Even when cases were transferred the
orthodontist use to reposition the brackets to
suit himself/herself.
 Long axis of crown

Long axis of
Angulation tooth
landmark Incisal
edges
Marginal
ridges
Contact
points
 Long axis of crown: Not reliable
Since they run thru center of the teeth.
 Contact Points :Though easy since not inside
the tooth cannot be referenced easily.

 Incisal Edges : Limited help since they are too

far away from the bracket slots.
Plus posterior teeth have cusp tips.
Long axis of the crown Bracket height
or tooth from cusp tip or
incisal tip
 Long Axis of the tooth just as unreliable for
similar reasons plus the fact that facial axis of
the crown does not parallel the the axis either.
Also no two sites on the crowns facial surface
have the same angular relation to to the plane
of the occlusal surface/ crowns mid transverse
plane or to the occlusal plane of the arch when
the teeth are optimally positioned
 The diversity of bracket sitting techniques for
inclination is evident when the literature is
reviewed.
 Tweed recommends sitting brackets a specified
no. of millimeters from the incisal edge or cusp
tip.
 Saltzmann recommends bracket location at
middle third of the crown except for maxillary
laterals.
 Holdaway advocates the bracket sitting can be
altered according to characteristics of
malocclusion.
 Open bite cases----within the gingival 1/3
 Deep bite cases—within the occlusal1/3
 A/c to Jarabak bracket sites for inclination
should be determined by the shape of the
crown.
 Ovoid crowns--- bracket site should be in
middle 1/3
 Tapering crowns ---1-2mm away from the
incisal edges.
 Square form —should be close to the incisal
edges as possible.
 Lindquist recommended marginal ridges of the
posterior teeth as reference to locate the
brackets.
E.g
•In a tooth
slot
inclination
can differ
up to 45
degree
depending
on which
portion of
the crown is
chosen as
bracket site.
 Non programmed brackets are simple in
design, easily manufactured and inexpensive
but unfortunately they are difficult to use
because considerable wire bending is needed
throughout the treatment.
 Next to shortcomings of bracket design and
landmarks, the most obvious reason for so
much bending is that the brackets are all the
same but the positions of most tooth types are
different.
 To initiate or maintain movement of the teeth
 To compensate for slot sitting errors caused by
inadequate bracket design or incorrect bracket
sitting.
 To compensate for the side effects of wire
bending and wire forming
 To correct for earlier human error inaccuracies
in wire bending.
 According to Andrews a primary arch wire
bend is a first order, second order or third
order bend intended for the most direct
movement of teeth
 The slot of the bracket is intended to indirectly
represent the crown landmarks chosen by the
orthodontist for angulation, occlusogingival
position, inclination and facial prominences.
 If the slots does accurately represent the crown
landmarks, even then the primary bends
required for each tooth.
 These are any bends for tooth guidance that are
not primary bends.
 These bends are needed to compensate for slot
sitting irregularities caused by bracket design
and unreliable bracket sitting technique wire
bending and wire forming side effects and
judgment errors in bending.
 A tertiary bend is one placed for any reason
other than guidance
 Examples are omega loops for stops, loops for
increasing wire flexibility and loops for elastics.
 Orthodontist often encounter slot sitting
problems caused by bracket design and bracket
sitting
 Personal skills in wire manipulation vary
 According to Thurow there is no such thing as
an isolated orthodontic act. More effort and
knowledge is required to prevent or control
unwanted movements than to apply primary
forces.
 Some of these events cannot be perceived clinically
but any one of them can affect tooth position
beyond the established .5mm or 2degree error
limits.
 Brackets designed to work with sitting system that
ensures locating them within the 0.5mm and 2
degree guidelines.
 An appliance whose design and sitting system
offers these features will reduce or eliminate the
need for wire bending .
 It will also stimulate greater emphasis on
diagnosis, treatment planning and execution of
treatment
 1958 John Stifter came up with a bracket with a
male and female component.
female component was attached to the tooth
with interchangeable male components which
had various combinations of inclinations,
angulations and torque values.

Summary : This was the FIRST EDGEWISE

BRACKET designed to build guidance into all
three planes of space.
 The Crowns FA point was selected because
1. No interference with gingiva/ tooth.
2. The angulation & inclination of the crown at
this site had a consistent angular relationship
to the plane of each tooth’s occlusal surface at
all times and to the occlusal plane of the arch.
3. The middle of each FA point shared the same
plane/surface when the teeth in an arch was
optimally positioned.

 The FACC is taken as a landmark because :
1. Can be easily seen and marked.
2. Easy to inspect the angulation of a crown
before treatment.
3. During treatment the FACC can be easily
visualised thru the vertical components,
designed to parallel and straddle the FACC.
4. Can be used for angulation and inclination of
both anterior and posterior teeth.
 Accuracy in the technique required is such that
the the bracket should be sited within 2 deg if
the FACC and base point of the bracket to
within 0.5mm of the FA point.

 The concept of programming tooth guidance

into the bracket rather than into the wire is
based on the fact that extensive similarities
prevail in the basic morphology of normal
tooth types.
 Design features of :
a) Correct amount of slot angulation.

b) inclination.
c) Facial Prominence.
Are included in Partly programmed appliances
since they do not target the slot within 2 deg
and 0.5 mm.
Whereas fully programmed brackets include the
above plus convenience features and
auxilliary features.
a) Standard Fully Programmed Appliance

a) Translation Fully Programmed Appliance

 Standard brackets
Incisor relation - Class I Class II Class III
Molar relation Class I Class II

 Extraction series brackets or translation

brackets
 Minimum
 Medium
 Maximum
Standard Brackets
Def: A fully programmed bracket designed for teeth
that do not require translation.
 Non extraction cases.

 Same values of built in features as normals

 One Standard bracket for each tooth, except

incisors & max. molars.
For incisors there are 3 9with differing inclinations)
and Max molars – 2 types of brackets –
 Class I molars
 Class II molars
 Fully programmed standard brackets produce
slot siting features of the quality required and
also if it is not required for treatment with
unbent arch wires.

 These features will be required in

midtransverse
midsagittal and
mid- frontal planes of each tooth and brackets
and not in relation to the planes of patient’s
head.
 Feature 1 —
the
midtransverse
plane of the
slot, stem and
crown must
be the same.
Feature 2 —
the base of
the bracket
for each tooth
type must
have the
same
inclination as
the facial
plane of the
crown at the
FA point
•Feature 3 ---
each bracket’s
inclined base
must be
contoured
occlusogingivally
to match the
curvature of the
crown
 If features 1 through
3 are incorporated
into the bracket
design and the
brackets are sited
correctly, each slot’s
midtransverse plane
will be aligned with
that of the crown,
regardless of crown’s
position.
 When the teeth are
optimally positioned,
the midtransverse
planes of all the
crowns, stems and
slots in an arch will
coincide with the
Andrews plane.
 These 3 slot siting
features eliminate
the need of
several kind of
bends—2nd order
bends to deal with
occlusogingival
disharmony in
slot sitting, 3rd
order bends for
inclination and
other bends to
deal with inherent
side effects of
wire bending
 Feature 4 —the midsagittal
plane of slot ,stem and crown
must be the same.
 Feature 5 —the plane of the
bracket base at its base point
must be identical to the facial
plane of the crown at the FA
point.
 In all the crowns the angle is
90 degree except for
maxillary molars it is 100
degree to the
midsagittalplane.
 In the maxillary molars the
extra 10 degree prosthetically
equalizes the unequal facial
prominences of molar buccal
cusps.
 Feature 6 —the base
of the each bracket
must be contoured to
match the mesiodistal
radius of the area of
the crown it is
designed to fit.
 conformity of crown
and bracket base
curvature prevents
any play between the
base and the crown
that might cause the
midsagittal of the
bracket to be directed
mesially or distally to
the crown’s
midsagittal plane.
 Feature 7---in each
fully programmed
bracket, the vertical
components( mesial
and distal borders of
bracket stem and tie
wings) are designed to
parallel one another.
these components ,
when the parallel and
midpoint bracket siting
technique is used, are
to parallel and straddle
the vertical landmark
of the crown—the
FACC.
The horizontal
components of the
bracket i.e.
superior and
inferior sides of
the bracket stem
are sited
equidistant from
the crown’s
gingiva and cusp’s
tip the base point
of the bracket will
mate with the
crown’s FA point.
 Feature 8 —
within an
arch ,all
slots points
( c ) must
have the
same
distance
between
them and
the crown’s
embrasure
line (a).
 At the same time the
distance between the
slots points and the
face of the each crown
(bc), when measured
along their respective
midtransverse planes,
must be inversely
proportional to the
distance between each
crown’s face and its
embrasure line (ab).
 This feature in the
bracket eliminates the
first order bends to
accommodate for
varying crown
prominences.
 Bracket Base Inclination

Cl I Cl II Cl III
Maxillary CI : 7 deg 2 deg 12 deg

LI : 3 deg -2 deg 8 deg

Mandibular
CI & LI -1 deg 4 deg -6 deg
 Convenience feature do not play a role in slot
sitting but they make the appliance easier for
the orthodontist to use and sometimes more
comfortable for the patient.
 The gingival tie
wings on
posterior
brackets are
designed to
extend farther
laterally than
they do on non-
programmed
brackets.
 This facilitates
ligation and
eliminates
gingival
impingement
 The bases of fully
programmed brackets
are inclined so on
mand.premolars and
molars the stem and
tie wings are directed
more gingivally than
they are in non
programmed brackets.
 This slot sitting
features eliminates or
reduces occlusal
interferences that often
occurs with brackets
whose bases are not
inclined.
 Similarly facial
surface of incisor
and canine
brackets are
designed to
parallel their bases
,which in turn
parallel the
crown’s faces.
 This feature is for
lip comfort and
also helps in
preventing occlusal
interferences.
 They contribute to the biological aspect of the
treatment ,even though they are not involved
in siting the slot .
 Examples are
 power arms.
 hooks.
 face bow tubes.
 utility tubes and rotation wings.
 Translation is defined as uniform motion of a
body in a straight line.
 For such movement to occur the force must
actually or effectively be applied to the object’s
center of resistance.
 The Advantage of Translation fully
programmed brackets over non-programmed
ones is that by using these the teeth come more
or less within the 2 deg and 0.5 mm permissible
limit.
A bracket located on
the crown’s face is in
the wrong place in two
ways:----
•The bracket is occlusal
to the tooth center of
resistance ( b ).
•So when a mesial or
distal force is applied
the tooth instead of
translating ,it will tend
to tip around its
horizontal center of
rotation (a ).
 The bracket is
also located
laterally to the
center of
resistance ,
 so instead of
translating
when a mesial
or distal force
is applied , the
tooth will tend
to rotate
around its
vertical center
of rotation
 In addition to this ,whenever a mesially directed force
is applied to maxillary molars it also has tendency to
tip buccally because of the drag imposed by the tooth
dominant lingual root.

 The Translation Fully Programmed Series have the

same features as the standard one i.e.
The placement of brackets according to Midtransverse,
midsagittal and mid frontal planes
+
Slot Siting features of Counter mesiodistal tip,
Counter rotation,
Counter buccolingual tip (max 6)
+
Power Arm
 Definition :

― A Slot Siting feature that counteracts

rotation during translation and then
overcorrects ‖
 The slot siting feature for counter rotation
involves rotating the slot in specified amounts
around its vertical axis depending upon
amount of translation needed.
 This feature coupled with the flex of wire
counteracts tooth rotation caused by mesial or
distal force during mesial or distal translation.
 To transfer the force efficiently from bracket
slot to center of crown the mesio-distal length
of a bracket should equal the distance from the
slot point to the tooth’s vertical axis.
Relative to a line 90
degree to the
crown’s midsagittal
plane, the
mesiodistal axis of
a standard slot is
not rotated— 0
degree line.
however for
translation brackets
the slot’s
mesiodistal axis is
rotated 2,4, or 6
degree around the
slot point.
When a mesial or
distal force is
applied, the
resulting rotation
moment (M) is
controlled by the
counter moment
(CM) produced
by the rotated
slot and flexed
arch wire.
When translation
is complete, the
rotated slot
provides rotation
overcorrection
For efficient
rotation control
the mesiodistal
bracket length (b)
should equal the
distance ( c ) from
slot point ( a) to
the tooth's
vertical axis ( d ).
 The slot sitting feature for counter mesio-distal
tip involves rotating the slot according to the
translation distance around its facio-lingual
axis.
Mesiodistal slot length
( a ) is less than the
distance ( b ) from the
bracket ( c ) to the
tooth’s center of
resistance ( d ).
When a mesio
distal force is
applied to a
bracket, the
counter
moment ( CM )
and moment (
M ) are out of
balance and the
tooth tends to
tip.
 The counter moment produced by the
angulated slot and flexed arch wire counters
some but not all of the tendency for the root to
lag behind the crown when a mesial or distal
force is applied to the crown.
Optimal lever
length for
translating a tooth
equals the
distance ( b ) from
the tooth bracket
site ( c ) to the
tooth’s center of
resistance ( d ).
Optimal lever
length produces a
balanced
countermoment
and moment.
Counter moment and
moment are out of
balance when the
counter moment is
produced from the
power arm alone
without assistance from
the wire and slot.
It happens because the
power arm length ( e ) is
shorter than is the
distance ( b ) from the
bracket ( c ) to the
tooth’s center of
resistance ( d ).
Translation occurs when
both the slot and power
arm are activated.
Together they provide a
counter moment equal to
the moment.
The combined lengths of
the slot ( a ) and power
arm ( e ) equal the
distance ( b ) between the
bracket ( c ) and tooth’s
center of resistance ( d ).
When
translation is
complete the
extra slot
angulation
provides
angulation
overcorrection.
Standard slot
angulation for
maxillary canine
is 11 degree for
canine however
for canine
translation
brackets the
standard slot
angulation is
increased to 13,14
or 15 degree.
Amount of Degree of counter mesio-
translation distal tip
2mm or less +2 degree-mesial
-2 degree-distal
More than2mm +3degree-mesial
but less than 4mm
-3 degree-distal

More than 4mm

+4degree-mesial
-4degree-distal
 whenever a mesially directed force is applied to
maxillary molars it also has tendency to tip
mesially as well as buccally because of the drag
imposed by the tooth dominant lingual root.

 Counter buccolingual tip is achieved by increasing

negative base inclination which cants the slot mid
transverse plane relative to the crown’s mid
transverse plane.
 In 1970s after the introduction of straight wire
appliance these brackets were developed with
more than one programmed slot-sitting feature.
 Patent restrictions allowed them to reproduce
no more than 4 of 8 vital slot sitting feature that
appear in fully programmed brackets.
 Despite their major design divergences from
the straight wire appliances, partly
programmed appliances are being loosely
called straight wire appliances.
 By definition a partly programmed appliance
lacks at least one slot sitting feature. For this
reason alone, it would fail to fully direct each
slot to its tooth’s slot site.
 Actually the inadequacy in both quantity and
quality of slot siting features makes wire
bending necessary.
 Partly programmed brackets have 4 slot-siting
features:--
 Slot inclination
 Slot angulation
 Prominences
 Horizontal base curvature
 In partly programmed appliance ,patents
have restricted inclinations to be built in the
face of the bracket which is different from the
fully programmed appliance in which the
inclination is built in the base of the bracket.
•Non programmed and partly
programmed brackets have bases
that are at right angles to the stem.,
thus when they are similarly cited,
they site their slot points identically.
•In contrast ,the the inclined bases of
fully programmed brackets locate the
slot point on the crown’s midtransverse
plane.
 Some partly programmed brackets use both
slot angulation and slot inclination, so if such
brackets are placed on the FACC and the FA
point of optimally positioned crowns, the full
and correct amount of angulation and
inclination should be attained.
 However the occlusogingival position of the
slot is not directed to the Andrews plane .
 In most of the partly programmed
brackets ,the prominences of the
brackets varies in step with intention to
eliminate or reduce the need of first
order bends.
 Several manufacturer indicate
faciolingual prominences that is thicker
or thinner than in their
nonprogrammed brackets.
 Because of lack of consistency in
prominences incorporated in the
bracket, a consensus is not evident.
 If a clinician wants this information
for a particular appliance, it can be
obtained by contacting the
manufacturer or by measuring the
distance from base point to the slot
point.
 A difference of more than 0.5mm from
the amount in the straight wire
appliance can be considered clinically
significant.
 Most partly programmed and some non
programmed brackets have horizontal base
contour.
 However the measurements used for this slot
siting feature are generally not published by
the manufacturers and they may or may not be
the same as for the straight wire appliance.
 If they are not the same as the straight wire
appliance ,then these appliance will not reliably
locate the mid sagittal plane of the bracket stem
and slot on the crown’s midsagittal plane.
 Due to patent restriction of SWA none of the
partly programmed appliances offer fully
programmed translation brackets .
 This means that unless treated with
combination of wire bending and wire forming
and possibly with auxiliary rotation devices
non of the teeth requiring translation will
translate, nor will they be sufficiently over
inclined, over angulated or over rotated after
translation.
(1)-- It is difficult ,if not impossible, to place the
brackets so exacting that the desired or built in
angulations of the brackets will be properly
expressed with unbent wires.
 At the heart of every excellent treatment
results lies a well placed appliance regardless
of the type of appliance used.
 One can not achieve a routine degree of
excellence with a poorly placed appliance and
this is particularly true with the edgewise
appliance.
 It is far easier and possible to control tooth
positions with bracket placement than by
bending wire.
 If one were to take a perfectly positioned set of
teeth and place a standard edgewise appliance
on these teeth with all the brackets ideally
positioned and then bend an upper and lower
full size set of rectangular wires including first,
second and third order bends, then for many
orthodontists it will be difficult to place the
wire and leave them in position for 2-3 months
without moving some of teeth or all of the teeth
from ideal occlusion.
 On the other hand, if we were to place an
appliance on this same perfect dentition in
which brackets themselves had a very minimal
amount of error and then place upper and
lower unbent wire, we could be reasonably
secure that very little if any untoward of these
teeth would occur.
 Is straight wire appliance perfect for all the
cases
 Standard edgewise brackets that are inherently
and grossly in error in all three plane of space
on teeth.
 So bending of wires required not only to move
the teeth but also to overcome the inherent
error built into the attachments.
 Although the straight wire appliance is by no
means perfect, the minimal amount of error
built into the attachments for almost every case
is minor enough to almost be overlooked in
terms of the clinical end product.
 To build into an appliance the desired tooth
position for each tooth in all the three planes of
space requires building of torque and in/out
into specialized bracket bases of varying
thickness that are specifically contoured to fit
the bracket site area.
 This can not be accomplished with the
standard edgewise brackets regardless how
one tips the bracket and torques the slot.
 Frequently the anticipated results of treatment
are not achieved by using straight wire. This is
due to inaccurate bracket placement ,variation
in tooth structure, variation in maxillary and
mandibular relationships and tissue rebound.
Clearly one straight wire prescription can not fit
all the orthodontic patients .
 Therefore it is still necessary for orthodontists to
use their artistic senses and skills to make some
first order ,second and third order bends in the
arch wire to move the teeth to the desired
positions ,however the no. of bends is not nearly
the no. of bends necessary with standard
edgewise appliance.
 References:--
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bioprogressive vs. straight-wire treatment.--
Angle Orthod. 2005 Nov;75(6):987-92
 Mavragani M, Vergari A, Selliseth NJ, Boe OE,
Wisth PL.--A radiographic comparison of apical
root resorption after orthodontic treatment with a
standard edgewise and a straight-wire edgewise
technique.
Eur J Orthod. 2000 Dec;22(6):665-74
 Miethke RR, Melsen B.--Effect of variation in tooth
morphology and bracket position on first and
third order correction with preadjusted
appliances.
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1999
Sep;116(3):329-35
 Miethke RR.--Third order tooth movements with
straight wire appliances. Influence of vestibular
tooth crown morphology in the vertical plane.
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 Taylor NG, Cook PA.The reliability of
positioning pre-adjusted brackets: an in vitro
study.
Br J Orthod. 1992 Feb;19(1):25-34
 Gurujit Singh Randhawa, Ashima Valiathan —
Anchorage loss with straight wire appliance.—
JIDA,.1993 Oct Vol.64.no.10, page—313-315
 Germane, Bentley, and Isaacson--- Biologic variables
modifying faciolingual tooth angulation by straight-
wire appliances - --AJO-DO Volume 1989 Oct (312 -
319):
 Andrews, L. F.: The six keys to normal occlusion, Am.
J. Orthod1972. . 62:page-296-309
 Andrews LF-- The straight-wire appliance. Explained
and compared.
J Clin Orthod. 1976 Mar;10(3):174-95.
 Ashima Valiathan —Hand book of straight
wire technique—33rd Indian orthodontic
conferences,Manipal-2002.oct.
 LAWRENCE F. ANDREWS--- THE
STRAIGHT-WIRE APPLIANCE Origin,
Controversy, Commentary--JCO 1976 Feb,
Volume (99 – 114)
 Valiathan A, Randhawa S, Joseph J --Class I
bimaxillary protrusion treated with straight
wire Andrews appliance--a case report.
--J Pierre Fauchard Acad. 1994 Jun;8(2):55-61.
 Creekmore TD, Kunik RL--.Straight wire: the
next generation.
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1993
Jul;104(1):8-20. Erratum in: Am J Orthod
Dentofacial Orthop 1993 Nov;104(5):20.
 Roth RH.--The straight-wire appliance 17 years
later.
J Clin Orthod. 1987 Sep;21(9):632-42
 Andrews L. F.; Straight wire,the concept and
appliance, San Diego, California LA Wells,
1989.
 Mews JR.---Straight wire appliance courses.
Br J Orthod. 1987 Nov;14(4):329.
 Vardimon AD, Lambertz W. -- Statistical
evaluation of torque angles in reference to
straight-wire appliance (SWA) theories.
Am J Orthod. 1986 Jan;89(1):56-66.
 Andrews LF. --The straight-wire appliance.
Br J Orthod. 1979 Jul;6(3):125-43.
 Dellinger EL. -- A scientific assessment of the
straight-wire appliance.
Am J Orthod. 1978 Mar;73(3):290-9
 Mayerson M. --Practice management and the
straight-wire appliance.
J Clin Orthod. 1977 Mar;11(3):207-12.
 Roth RH --Five year clinical evaluation of the
Andrews straight-wire appliance.
J Clin Orthod. 1976 Nov;10(11):836-50.
 Andrews LF The straight-wire appliance arch
form, wire bending & an experiment.
J Clin Orthod. 1976 Aug;10(8):581-8.
 Andrews LF. --The straight-wire appliance.
Extraction series brackets.
J Clin Orthod. 1976 Jul;10(7):507-29 cont.
 Andrews LF --The straight-wire appliance.
Extraction series brackets.
J Clin Orthod. 1976 Jun;10(6):425-41.
 Andrews LF--The straight-wire appliance.
Extraction brackets and "classification of
treatment".
J Clin Orthod. 1976 May;10(5):360-79.
 Andrews LF-- The straight-wire appliance.
Case histories: non-extraction.
J Clin Orthod. 1976 Apr;10(4):282-303.