No departure from trusted
methodsAll orthodontists work with their preferred bracket prescription. And this should also remain the same in future. It is not without reason that Roth or MBT (McLaughlin/Bennett/Trevisi System) are among the most commonly used systems. However, such successful systems can be further optimised – to achieve even more aesthetic treatment outcomes. To develop SMILE Rx, FORESTADENT, in close cooperation with general dental practitioners and universities, tested established systems, improved individual details and integrated the improvements to produce an innovative comprehensive package. SMILE Rx therefore combines well-proven aspects of the edgewise technique with the advantages of modern self-ligating brackets.
Natural, wide smile
The aim during development of the SMILE Rx system was to produce an attractive smile while taking into consideration the most natural position of the teeth possible. The aesthetics were based on current findings, as documented in a study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics1 etc. Small triangular shadows – the buccal corridors – are created during smiling due to the gap between the dental arch and the angle of the mouth. The greater the gap the more prominent these so-called “black triangles” appear. The smaller the gap, on the other hand, the wider the smile appears. In the study above, several pictures of the same patient were presented to a group of test subjects consisting of dentists and lay persons. All the pictures were identical except for one detail: using photographic processing technology, various sizes of buccal corridor were shown – from highly prominent to (virtually) non-existent. A reproduction of the sizes of buccal corridors to be assessed can be seen on the cover of this brochure. The clear result was that the smaller the buccal corridor the more attractive the person shown appeared to the test subjects – both the dentists and lay persons. Other professional articles confirm this result.2,3 Buccal corridors can be reduced and a wide, attractive smile achieved using the SMILE Rx system from FORESTADENT.
Naturally anatomical
Aesthetics is an important aspect in orthodontics. However, this should not be the only aim with SMILE Rx. A natural position of the teeth is just as important and should therefore be given equal significance. In this respect the SMILE Rx prescription differs in some details from existing systems: in particular the roots of the maxillary premolars are perpendicular in the jaw bone with SMILE Rx. Keeping the root of the tooth in its natural position in the bony periodontium not only has a positive effect on the stability and intercuspation, it also contributes to the white of the tooth being more visible and a reduction of the buccal corridor. Experts such as Prof. Dr. Björn Zachrisson have long advocated that the position of the maxillary premolars should be as upright as possible and refer to their own clinical experience in this respect.4,5 A university study, as yet unpublished, can now scientifically support this clinical experience: measurement of the CT scans of over 150 patients established that the position of premolars that have not been treated is virtually upright.
Effective therapy
SMILE Rx produces an aesthetic smile simply due to the perpendicular position of the premolars. It is therefore not necessary to use wide arches. This avoids dental expansion extending beyond the natural shape of the jaw. The SMILE Rx system can be combined with all conventional archwire forms – according
to the existing, natural shape of the dental arch. A new archwire template facilitates selection.
Skilfully combined – active and passive
FORESTADENT based SMILE Rx entirely on its optimal, sophisticated self-ligating brackets. Two proven SL systems are therefore being utilised – the active BioQuick® brackets and the passive BioPassive® brackets. Both brackets can be optimally combined with one another, as they have an identical design – except for the difference in the slot depth. SMILE Rx active brackets provide optimal torque control in the anterior region (2–2). By contrast in the posterior region (3–5) passive brackets with less friction are used for rapid retraction, distalization and space closure. The orthodontist therefore benefits in the simplest way possible from the advantages of the two systems, without first having to compile complex sets for individual cases.
Aesthetic smiles from the outset
The SMILE Rx system is also available with our QuicKlear® brackets so that your patients can smile freely during treatment. The self-ligating, second generation ceramic brackets have the same, sophisticated locking mechanism as the BioQuick® brackets. The brackets are very inconspicuous thanks to the tooth-coloured ceramic and matt-finish clips. QuicKlear® is available for SMILE Rx from 3-3 in the maxilla and mandible. BioPassive® brackets are used on the premolars. They can of course also be used in combination with tooth-coloured archwires, such as BioCosmetic®.
References
- 1. Moore T, Southard KA, Casko JS, Qian F, Southard TE: Buccal corridors and smile esthetics, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Volume 127(2), 2005.
- 2. Gracco A, Cozzani M, D’Elia L, Manfrini M, Peverada C, Siciliani G: The smile buccal corridors: aesthetic value for dentists and laypersons, PROGRESS in ORTHODONTICS, 7(1), 2006.
- 3. Parekh SM: The perception of selected aspects of smile esthetics – smile arcs and buccal corridors, master thesis, Ohio State University, 2005.
- 4. Zachrisson BU: Buccal uprighting of canines and premolars for improved smile esthetics and stability, World Journal of Orthodontics, Volume 7, Issue 4, 2006.
- 5. Zachrisson BU: Making the premolar extraction smile full and radiant, World Journal of Orthodontics, Volume 3, 2002.
