July’s Tip

1. Instruments and execution of bends

Do not memorize, understand – Dr. T. Mulligan

The required bends in Mulligan Mechanics may be executed extra-orally or intra-orally.  Dr. Mulligan prefers the execution intra-orally, however, the author favors placement extra-orally.  The advantages of placement the extra-oral bends (particularly for the novice) are that the clinician may evaluate the final shape of the arch wire, coordinate the arch wire with the desired shape, and he/she may qualify and quantify the executed bends. In the author’s opinion, placing the bends intra-orally may not be as precise, in most cases.

The following are the recommended pliers:

1. Tweed loop forming pliers – a must for placement of center/off center bends. One full squeeze delivers 45°

2. Weingard pliers – to insert the pre-bent arch wires

3. Long bird beak pliers (or any other preferred pliers) – for placement of the bend back (cinch) at the end of the arch wire

4. Loop forming pliers (optional) – for forming the vertical open loop

5. Cigarette lighter (optional) – for annealing the end of the arch wire