A Tip For Occlusal Plane Deflect In Orthodontic Treatment

The main procedures of the straight-wire orthodontic technique are: aligning and leveling the upper and lower dental arches, closing the extraction spaces, performing fine adjustments, and retention. When there is sufficient space, the dental arches are leveled by intruding the anterior teeth and/or extruding the posterior teeth. However, in some cases, the phenomenon of occlusal plane deflect occurs after the leveling of the dental arches, including unilateral arch obliquity (the maxillary plane has no obliquity, and the mandibular plane shows a situation of being higher on the left and lower on the right or vice versa), and bilateral arch obliquity (the occlusal planes of both the maxilla and the mandible are oblique simultaneously). This phenomenon is related to the coordinating verticality of the teeth on both sides. In my clinical practice, by summarizing the experiences of my predecessors, I have derived a tip for correcting occlusal plane deflect during orthodontic treatment: using a nickel-titanium square wire with reverse curve combined with Class II elastics on the side that needs extrusion, and using a nickel-titanium square wire rwith with anti-reverse curve with Class III elastics on the side that needs intrusion. If the maxillary dental arch is horizontal and only the mandibular plane is oblique, a stainless steel square wire can be used With the good cooperation of the patient, the occlusal planes of the upper and lower dental arches can be made horizontal in about 3 months. It is uesful and helpful in orthodentic treatment.