Hi-Tech Archwires with Low Forces

Key to the Damon System is a systematic approach to archwire selection and sequencing. As part of this approach, the focus of the clinician should be use of the lightest wire possible to stimulate a biologic response. Use of light wires is critical so as not to overpower facial muscles as well as to achieve posterior transverse adaptation, freeing teeth to move laterally.

As a result, a .014 Damon Copper Ni-Ti® archwire is recommended at the beginning of treatment for a duration of 10-20 weeks. A small wire in a large lumen diminishes the divergence of the angles of the slots. This lowers the applied force and binding friction. In contrast, the use of larger wires at the onset or use of an active clip increases the divergence angles of the archwire and increases force.

The Damon archwire sequence consists of four phases:

  • Phase I: Initial light round wires to level and align, initiate arch development and resolve 90% of rotations.
  • Phase II: High-technology edgewise wires to complete leveling and aligning, resolve remaining rotations, begin torque control and anterior space consolidation, and continue arch development without the assistance of RPEs.
  • Phase III: Major mechanics to finish torque control, consolidate posterior space, adjust buccal/lingual and A/P, and coordinate patient-specific arch form.
  • Phase IV: Finishing, in which final detailing occurs as necessary.

Once doctors have made the appropriate wire selection, the focus should turn to lengthened appointment intervals that let the archwires work. As stated by Dr. William Proffit, activating an appliance too frequently can short circuit the repair process and produce damage to the teeth or bone that a longer appointment cycle would have prevented or at least minimized.

A key tenet of the Damon System is that the muscles of the face and tongue work in harmony with bone to determine the archform. And instead of treating to three generic archforms – small, medium and large – clinicians are actually treating hundreds of unique, patient-specific archforms.