Orthodontic Instruments and Specialty Functions

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering common orthodontic instruments and their specialty functions, based on lecture notes.

Elastic Separating Pliers

An instrument used to grip and place separators around the contact area of the tooth.

Hemostats

An instrument used to clamp blood/tissue.

Weingart Utility Pliers

gripping, guiding, manipulating archwires in the mouth

Manual Band Seater

An instrument used to push, adapt, and fully seat orthodontic bands onto molars and premolars.

Spring Action Band Seater

An instrument used to separate contacts between teeth to create a space for an orthodontic band and to place around the contact area of the tooth.

Bite Stick Band Seater

An instrument used to set permanent crowns or bands while the patient bites in centric occlusion.

Band Contouring Pliers

Pliers used to shape, adapt, and contour margins of metal orthodontic bands or stainless steel crowns.

Howe Pliers

Orthodontic pliers used to place and remove arch wires and check for loose bands.

Bird Beak Pliers

Pliers used to bend and form orthodontic wire and to remove bonded brackets.

Triple Bird Beak Pliers

Pliers used to bend, shape, and contour dental and arch wires.

Needle Nose Pliers

Pliers used to grasp, bend, twist, and adjust fine contour wires.

Tweed Loop Pliers

Specialized orthodontic pliers used to bend and form loops in archwire and bend wires for removable appliances.

Flat Nose Pliers

Pliers used to grip, hold, bend, and maneuver archwires, bands, and metallic appliances.

Ligature Tie Pliers

Orthodontic pliers used to tie ligature wire to the arch wire.

Ligature Director

An instrument used to position, guide, and tuck wires or elastic ligatures around brackets and archwires.

Light Wire Cutters

An instrument used to place ligature wire around brackets after it has been tied to the arch wire.

Distal End Cutters

A cutting instrument used to cut the distal end of the arch wire after placement in brackets.

Anterior Band Removing Pliers

Pliers used to efficiently and safely remove metallic anterior orthodontic bands and residual bonding adhesives.

Posterior Band Removing Pliers

Pliers used to detach and remove cemented molar and premolar bands from posterior teeth.

Boley Gauge

A measurement tool used to measure length, width, thickness, and interproximal spaces of teeth and dental materials in millimeters.