What’s New in Brackets for 2024

Allure Ortho offers Essence G2, the second generation of its popular Essence Crystal Clear Brackets. The company calls the Essence G2 the “easiest bracket to debond, with absolutely no shattering!” It now features more space under the tie wings for easier ligation and a perfected base, according to the company. Essence G2 is available for under $5.00 per bracket.

Ortho Shop America launched the Lucchesi Sub-Slot Bracket. The twin bracket was developed by an orthodontist, Dr Mauro V. Lucchesi. It features an additional sub-slot under the main slot of the bracket. According to the company, the Lucchesi Sub-Slot bracket allows low friction and rapid tooth movement like a self-ligating bracket at the beginning of treatment, and full wire engagement for optimum torque expression during later stages of treatment at the cost of a twin bracket. Alignment reportedly happens within 12 weeks without any adjustments and shortens overall treatment time. This bracket is exclusive to Ortho Shop America and is available from their website or their vendor stores on Orthazone and Net32.

KLOwen Orthodontics launched its custom metal self-ligating (SL) solution, the only custom SL bracket available. According to KLOwen, this solution is designed to deliver low friction and non-fatiguing ligation while maximizing control when using full size wires. Precise fit, combined with a custom prescription for each tooth, delivers shorter ligation appointments, faster initial alignment and improved tooth positioning, optimizing control of all three orders, says the company. A door that opens gingivally reportedly eliminates the need for redundant opening and closing actions during appointments. These efficiencies are designed to streamline appointment procedures and alleviate stress for doctors, their team, and their patients.

Henry Schein Orthodontics recently released the Carriere InfiNiTi Loops. According to the company, this power closer utilizes the unique properties of nickel titanium and shape memory to deliver consistent, ideal forces to achieve up to 6 mm of space closure. Designed for closing space between upper anteriors, this advanced treatment solution features a single continuous .010” nickel titanium wire shaped into a string of four loops. Compatible with both self-ligating and twin bracket systems, the InfiNiTi Loops reportedly offers reduced appointments for the orthodontic practice and improved case hygiene for patients.

Brius recently released the Brava Plus System. The system is designed to make getting wires in and out of brackets easier than ever. It requires no ligature ties and has no sliding gates. According to the company, it is “just 100% engagement.” In less than 2 minutes per arch, Brava Independent Movers reportedly are fully engaged, immediately moving teeth in all six degrees of freedom all at once. As the company puts it, “Lingual orthodontics used to be hard. Brava makes it easy.” To illustrate this point, the company held a typodont contest for the fastest Brava engagement at the recent AAO Annual Session in New Orleans. Joan from Doc Braces won with a winning time of 1 minute 4 seconds.

FORESTADENT’s latest offering is its fifth generation BioQuick Bracket System. BioQuick 5 reportedly features a re-engineered clip with a larger opening access, allowing the use of any scaler or probe to open the bracket—even a paperclip. Additionally, the off-set force application point reduces the clip’s susceptibility to deformation and damage, according to the company. BioQuick 5 includes an auxiliary slot for double arch mechanics up to .014”, with optimized contact points for better control of prescription values. Combined with one of the most retentive bracket bases in the industry, BioQuick 5 offers the best performance in the industry.

DynaFlex recently partnered with DIBSai to offer orthodontists the Norris PSL Bracket System with a seamless digital workflow. The Norris PSL Bracket System features a .020 x .026 slot, which nearly eliminates bracket slop and offers unmatched torque and rotation control, according to DynaFlex. These slot tolerances, combined with the exclusive Norris door, have proven to minimize patient visits and allow treatment in three common wire sizes, adds the company. The combined efforts of DynaFlex and DIBSai are designed to make using this bracket system with digital IDB straightforward and user-friendly. As DynaFlex puts it, “This ensures your office a simple, fast, and cost-efficient workflow.”

WildSmiles Braces launched the new Mickey Bracket in Onyx. This is the first offering in the company’s collection of shaped braces in fun designer colors. With fun designs, college mascots, and beloved characters, WildSmiles new Onyx Mickey brackets “will delight patients of all ages,” says the company. WildSmiles Onyx Mickey brackets are available within the U3-3 in MBT and Roth prescriptions in both .018 and .022 slot sizes. These designer braces reportedly are ideal for early treatment cases and integrate with any bracket system for comprehensive cases.

LightForce recently introduced three new bracket and tube enhancements to its system. The company offers a personalized end-to-end solution that it says seamlessly integrates into the practice. This solution features intuitive, proprietary digital planning software, 3D-printed brackets, and advanced LightTray indirect bonding technology. Because its brackets are 3D-printed, LightForce can personalize significant aspects of the bracket. The three new brackets and tube enhancements include thicker, longer gingival tie wings and hooks on the lower 4s and 5s, a .5 mm wider base on lower 4s and 5s, and 20° angle comfort hooks on U3s (both bi-directional and standard).

The InBrace system features reconceptualized brackets, says the company, that were designed to work with the InBrace Smartwire. The InBrace bracket-Smartwire complex is programmed with Gentleforce technology which allows teeth to predictably move in all six degrees of freedom, including opening and closing spaces, on autopilot from day 1 in treatment. The system reportedly uses gentle, continuous forces through programmed non-sliding mechanics. As the company explains, this friction-free opening and closing of spaces is possible because the InBrace bracket design prevents the Smartwire from sliding.

Specialty Appliances now offers 3DiB with WildSmiles Braces. According to the company, this combination allows the clinician to maintain direct control of bracket placement with the added convenience of indirect bonding, making WildSmiles designer shapes simple and easy to bond every time. Practices reportedly get easy delivery with a custom fit tray and a custom adhesive base for each bracket, ensuring perfect placement and shortened bonding appointments. The collaboration of 3DiB with Specialty + WildSmiles is designed for busy practices that want to manage little to no inventory and for practices doing Phase 1 treatment and comprehensive cases.

Ormco offers the Damon Ultima System which is available with neutral, retrocline and procline bracket options for enhanced torque control. According to the company, brackets are designed from the center point of the slot to line up with the FA point to express the desired torque and provide easier and more precise placement. Earlier this year, the company launched Ormco Digital Bonding, Powered by Spark Technology, which is designed to make bracket bonding consistent. It reportedly combines Ormco’s best-in-class solutions to achieve bracket position and streamline practice workflow, leveraging Damon Ultima brackets, the Spark Software Platform, and Ormco Jigs Technology.