• Chapter I – Wire bends 8
  1. Pliers 9
  2. Cutting steel wires 10
  3. Wire straightening 11
  4. Rounding wire edges 12
  5. Pliers, holding or palm gripping 12
  6. Basic bends 14
• Chapter II – Archwire form 17
  1. The importance of form 18
  2. Form of the mandibula dental arch 19
  3. Determining the 5 points 21
  4. Selecting the archwire form to be used 22
  5. Contouring wires into a desirable form 26
• Chapter III – Torsion or Torque – T-Bends 32
  1. Treatment goals 33
  2. Torque and torsional bends 34
  3. Anatomy of the buccal surfaces of mandibular teeth 35
  4. Torsion / Torque in the mandibular archwire (third order bends) 37
  5. Anatomy of the buccal surfaces of maxilla teeth 42
  6. Torsion / Torque in the maxillary archwire (third order bends) 45
  7. Buccal surfaces of the mandibular and maxillary molars. 59
  8. Other torque or torsional bends 62
• Chapter IV – Horizontal Plane – H-Bends 67
  1. Contour of the buccal surfaces of the teeth 68
  2. Horizontal bends in the mandibular archwire (first order bends) 72
  3. Horizontal bends in the maxillary archwire (first order bends) 96
  4. Maxillary / mandibular archwire coordinating 102
  5. Template for exercises 104
• Chapter V – Vertical Plane – V-Bends 105
  1. Delta shape bend 106
  2. Omega shape bend 110
  3. Teardrop loop shape bend 114
  4. T-shape bend or T spring 118
  5. Curve of Spee and Steps 127
  6. Recording (Readout) maxillary molar inclinations 139
  7. Tip-Back Bends (TBB) 141
  8. Compensating for malpositioned teeth / brackets 146
• References 150

After having taught the basic orthodontic techniques for more than 40 years in orthodontics programs, the author could conclude that bending and torsion exercises for rectangular orthodontic archwires have become all but outdated.

The technological innovations have greatly streamlined orthodontic clinical practice, but despite these novel orthodontic techniques, manual skills and proper training in carrying out specific, individualized tooth movements with precision still constitute a practice of excellence.

In any orthodontic technique or philosophy with fixed appliances, there will always come a time when bends will be needed in archwires to obtain excellent results.

Given the lack of information on this topic, provided in a straightforward and orderly manner, this manual intends to fill this gap by focusing on training young, newly graduated orthodontists.

It is hoped that all those who aim to achieve clinical excellence in orthodontics will profit from the information contained in this manual.