2. • When treating extraction cases, be aware to use
High torque+7°on cuspids to keep the root away
from the buccal plate. If you have difficulty in
closing spaces, add an
• additional 20° lingual root torque from canine
posteriorly to
• keep the roots away from the buccal plates to
facilitate
• space closure.

3. • end of coil to a 90 degree angle before hooking the spring
• on the end of the wire. Space closure with coil springs
• provides more consistent long term pressure than with
• elastomeric modules, chain elastics, or Class I elastics. He
• activates coils every 11 weeks so he doesn't have to see
• patients very often. He closes upper and lower spaces
• simultaneously. With proper activation, one should expect
• about 1.2 mm closure per month (Fig 11).

4. • If the space is not
• closed one sided, Dr. Pitts will have patients chew small
• pieces of gum on the affected side or add lingual root torque
• on buccal segment. So the spaces will close more quickly.
• Never go back to the 2nd molars when closing spaces
• because it will slow down the closure. With the low friction
• passive self-ligating brackets provided, we don't have to
• worry about “anchorage”. The more we widen the arches,
• the more the anterior teeth will distalize !!

5. • Dr. Pitts
• started using lingual fixed retainer on upper arch just a few
• years ago. This is because he observed that out of those
• beautifully finished cases that wore only removable retainers,
• 50% of their lateral incisors moved gingivally. This is not
• very esthetic. Thus, Dr. Pitts decided to bond upper 2-2 with
• fixed retainer. Usually, Dr. Pitts finished his cases in shallow
• bites, except for the Class III and anterior openbite cases
• which need to be overcorrected. So, there is always enough
• space for the upper fixed retainer. He uses Ortho Flex Tech
• for an upper fixed retainer, and .027 TMA or .0175 / .0195
• twisted wire for lower 3-3 combined with clear retainer (.040
• inch clear sheet). Patients have to wear upper and lower clear
• retainers full time for 4 weeks after debonding, and then
• switch to night time only. The upper fixed retainer should be
• placed for more than 3 years, and the lowers’ should be
• placed for a life time. Patients should also wear clear
• retainers for a life time.

6. • Dr. Pitts
• started using lingual fixed retainer on upper arch just a few
• years ago. This is because he observed that out of those
• beautifully finished cases that wore only removable retainers,
• 50% of their lateral incisors moved gingivally. This is not
• very esthetic. Thus, Dr. Pitts decided to bond upper 2-2 with
• fixed retainer. Usually, Dr. Pitts finished his cases in shallow
• bites, except for the Class III and anterior openbite cases
• which need to be overcorrected. So, there is always enough
• space for the upper fixed retainer. He uses Ortho Flex Tech
• for an upper fixed retainer, and .027 TMA or .0175 / .0195
• twisted wire for lower 3-3 combined with clear retainer (.040
• inch clear sheet). Patients have to wear upper and lower clear
• retainers full time for 4 weeks after debonding, and then
• switch to night time only. The upper fixed retainer should be
• placed for more than 3 years, and the lowers’ should be
• placed for a life time. Patients should also wear clear
• retainers for a life time.