Orthodontic resources.
What the laboratory needs for orthodontic cases, and where to find the rest of the guidance.
Records for orthodontic appliances
An accurate impression or scan capturing full clinical crowns and the undercuts that provide retention. A model short at the gingival margins produces an appliance that does not hold, and that is the commonest cause of a retainer that lifts.
The opposing arch and a bite record where the appliance engages occlusion — which is most guards and splints, and any Hawley where settling matters.
For banded appliances, the bands fitted clinically and captured, or the band size specified.
Timing
Retention records should be taken at the debond appointment, not afterwards. Teeth move immediately and a delayed record produces an appliance that does not seat.
Alginate should be poured or scanned promptly — distortion from a delayed pour is the usual explanation for a thermoformed appliance that will not fit.
Where a case is staged, sequence it with the laboratory at the outset so the appointments and the case movement line up.
What to state on the prescription
The appliance type, the arch marked on the design chart, and the clinical objective — what is being retained, maintained or interrupted.
Design specifics: clasp type and teeth clasped, labial bow design, trim line, material thickness, any active component. Where you have no preference, say so and we will apply our standard.
The patient's age and stage of dentition for anything in a developing mouth, and any evidence of parafunction.
Related guidance
Appliance care covers the cleaning, storage and heat guidance worth giving every patient in writing.
Night guards and occlusal splints cover the protective and therapeutic appliances, which are distinct from each other.
Sports mouthguards covers guards for patients not in orthodontic treatment.
Common causes of an appliance that will not seat
A record taken too long after debond, so the teeth have already moved. An alginate impression left before pouring, which distorts. A model short at the gingival margins, so the appliance has no undercut to engage.
A bonded retainer placed after the record was taken, which the removable appliance cannot accommodate. Bands not properly seated when the impression was taken.
All five are preventable at the appointment and none is correctable at the bench.
Sending appliance cases
Cases move by UPS and Purolator, and Fairmont works with dental offices throughout British Columbia and across Canada.
Pack so nothing can bend a clasp or chip an acrylic edge, disinfect before sending, and include the prescription inside the package. See packing and sending a case.
If you would rather ask
Advising on appliance design is part of the service. Ask a technician covers what the technical resource is for.
Call the laboratory Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
More in Orthodontic Laboratory
Send a case
Digital scans and conventional impressions are both accepted. Cases move by UPS and Purolator, and Fairmont works with practices throughout British Columbia and across Canada.