Alignment of Displaced or Impacted Teeth with the Traction Chain

Abstract

To align those teeth in the dental arch that cannot erupt or are displaced, they must be surgically exposed. After the traction device is attached, the tooth is again covered with the mucoperiosteal flap to protect the tissues involved. For this reason, the loss of this traction device must be absolutely avoided in order to prevent another surgical intervention. Here at the University of Ulm, we have developed and tested an optimized traction chain for that purpose. The chain is attached to the tooth with a laser-roughened pad applying the acid-etching technique. The chain links serve as fixation elements for traction devices such as elastic ligatures or piggyback archwires. At the same time, one can determine the distance covered by the tooth by the number of the erupting chain links. We demonstrate the clinical application of this traction device in two cases.

Assessment of labially impacted canines traction mode with clear aligners vs. fixed appliance: A comparative study based on 3D finite element analysis

“…These methods include the K-9 spring ( Shastri et al, 2014 ), the ballista spring ( Jacoby, 1979 ), the cantilever spring ( Nakandakari et al, 2016 ), elastomeric chains ( Yadav et al, 2011 ) or threads, and piggyback (double archwire) ( Sandler et al, 1999 ). Indeed, the traction phase of the impacted canines used to be considered possible only by the traction method with fixed appliances ( Kornhauser et al, 1996 ; Sander et al, 2006 ) or min-implants ( De Clerck et al, 2002 ; Heravi et al, 2014 , 2016 ). However, compared with the fixed appliance and mini-implants, the traction method with clear aligners has the advantages of being more aesthetically pleasing, clean, and non-invasive.…”

The Alignment of Impacted and Ectopic Teeth using the Easy-Way-Coil (EWC®) System

“…For their extrusion-spring arm, Terry & Thomson [37] recommend a degree of activation equalling the pressure of a finger in the direction of the tooth; McDonald & Yap [23] draw with 5/16" heavy-pull elastics replaced daily, and neither Pearson et al [26] nor Sander et al [31]. recommend any particular amount of force.…”