How To Select a Bracket System for Digital Indirect Bonding
You’ve probably heard a lot about Digital Indirect Bonding (DIB). Your first decision is what bracket you’d like to use. You can use your standard bracket or a custom bracket.
Reasons why you may want to use your standard bracket:
You may want to take a more conservative approach regarding workflow changes and using your standard bracket reduces the amount of change required.
Reasons why you may want to use a custom bracket system:
- Every tooth is unique, and a custom bracket takes into account variability in tooth morphology creating an individualized custom bracket.
- Custom brackets allow for true customization of the in/out and torque values based on the digital set up, minimizing the need to place bends in the wire.
- Some providers claim that custom bracket systems have allowed them to be more efficient in their treatments and decrease the number of brackets that need to be repositioned throughout treatment, thus finishing treatment sooner with fewer visits.
Considerations to keep in mind when using a custom bracket system:
- Custom bracket systems are often more expensive than stock bracket solutions due to the fabrication process.
- If a custom bracket breaks and a replacement is not available, it must be ordered, and a repair cannot be completed at that appointment.
- Indirect Bonding systems that utilize custom brackets tend to have a longer turnaround time compared to stock bracket systems. This is due to the requirement of the fabrication of both the bracket and the indirect bonding tray once the digital set is approved.
- Your bracket choice impacts your digital indirect bonding tray options.
If you choose your standard bracket, you can either:
- Print your own trays
- Outsource tray printing
If you choose a custom bracket system, they will fabricate the tray while also delivering the trays with the custom brackets loaded in the trays for you.