Lingual orthodontics (part 2): archwire fabrication.

One essential component of a successful lingual treatment concept is the precise calculation and manufacture of individual lingual arch wires. As in several parts of daily life, the use of modern CAD/CAM technology leads in lingual orthodontic treatment to a rationalisation of working processes with maximized precision. The lingual module developed by the author is a new scanner-independent procedure for calculation and manufacture of individual lingual arch wires with the Orthomate/Orthotherm system (OrthoTel, Berlin/Dallas, Tx). Especially the precise individualization of superelastic, shape-memory materials reduces the archwire sequence and simplifies lingual treatment considerably. Individual second and third order overcorrections (incisal torque, reverse curve of Spee) can be programmed into the first archwire, with further three-dimensional corrections being added for each single tooth during finishing. Embedded in a systematic treatment concept, the use of modern CAD/CAM technology for individual lingual archwire production with the Orthomate/Orthotherm system is an important aid to successful integration of lingual orthodontic treatment into routine practice.