2 My approach is as follows: • Try to treat without extractions in all cases which appear to have the necessary potential. • If treatment objectives cannot be accomplished without extractions, extract second bicuspids to minimize any tendency toward unattractive reduction in the prominence of the dentition. • Use preliminary functional appliances to favorably alter jaw growth patterns wherever it is desirable and feasible. • Employ intra-oral distalization mechanics instead of headgear when conditions permit. • Expand arches which have failed to develop to their full potential. • Intrude upper anterior teeth in patients who exhibit a lot of gingival tissue. • Correct tooth rotations to ideal alignment without any over-correction and rely upon interproximal reshaping and circumferential supra-crestal fiberotomies to enhance retention. • Overcorrect Class II or Class III buccal segment relationships where a strong relapse tendency is expected. Concluding NOTES If you are trying the SPEED Appliance for the first time, I would urge you to consider the following: • Take great care to position the brackets and tubes as accurately as possible during initial bonding. • If significant bracket placement errors become apparent during the course of treatment, it is better to rectify them by re-bonding than to continually compensate with bends in the archwires. • A meticulous bonding technique will pay worthwhile dividends later in terms of efficiency and quality of treatment. • Use very light forces and go easy on over-correction. The customary anti-tip and antispin provisions in conventional edgewise appliances would be excessive if incorporated into the SPEED technique. • Because of the small area of bracket-arch contact and the concentration of rotational control, it is easy to underestimate the effectiveness of the appliance at first. • Use a light touch in manipulating the appliance and avoid “forcing” any component. Many of my patients have expressed their delight with the appearance of the SPEED appliance and with the treatment results I have been able to achieve with it. With a little extra care initially, you will most certainly have similar success. G. Herbert Hanson, D.D.S.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzg3Njc4