This document discusses utility arches, which are orthodontic appliances used to apply light forces in the dental arch. It provides details on: - The historical background and development of utility arches based on biomechanical principles. - Common wire dimensions and materials used, including stainless steel, nickel titanium, and beta titanium alloys. - The standard design components of utility arches, including molar, vertical, and incisal segments. - Different types of utility arches like passive arches, intrusion arches, and retraction/protrusion arches and how they are activated to apply specific orthodontic forces.

1. Utility archUnder supervision of
Prof.Dr. Ahmed el Bialy
Presented By .
Kholoud Mandour

2. Historical background
– Developed according to the biomechanical
principles as described by Burstone in 1977 and
refined by Ricketts for Bioprogressive therapy
– It was first developed for leveling deep curve of
spee in the mandibular arch but now it has many
other modifications and uses

3. Material And Dimension of
Wire
– Wire 0.016 x 0.016 or 0.016 x 0.022 in an 0.022
slot is the material of choice. It can even be
made with 0.014 or 0.018 round wires.
– They are available in three different metals:
stainless steel, Nitanium Super Elastic, and Bio-
Kinetix Thermal NiTi.

4. DESIGN
All utility arches have a common design
A. The molar segment
B. The posterior vertical
segment
C. The vestibular segment.
D .The anterior vertical
segment
E. Incisal segment.
N.B 90 degree angles made by 142 plier
Loops formed by loop forming plier

5. TYPES OF
UTILITY ARCH

6. Passive utility arch
Close fit
3-4
mm
5-8
mm
Used for stabilizing or space holding in mixed dentition

7. INTRUSION UTILTY ARCH
5 mm
The posterior vertical step 3-
5 mm anterior to auxiliary
tube on upper first molar,
allowing slight retrusive
activation by pulling the
wire posteriorly and twisting
the end of the arch gingivally
INTRUSIVE FORCE IS 25gms
to each incisors.

8. The effect of intrusive
force on mandibular
teeth
Incisor intrusion
Molar posterior tipping

9. Any utility arch can be activated for
intrusion by making an occlusal
directed gable small bend in the
buccal segment

10. RETRACTION UTILITY ARCH
The loop is formed so its anterior
leg crosses behind the posterior leg

11. Uses of Retraction utility arch
a. Retraction and intrusion of upper
incisors in case of flaring
b. Closure of interproximal spaces
c. Correcting midline discrepancies

12. Activation of retrusive force by weingart
plier
grasp the wire posterior to the band tube
Pull it 2-3 mm
Bend 90 degrees gingivally

13. PROTRUSION UTILITY ARCH
Distal to the anterior vertical
step
Occlusal to the
vestibular
segment

14. Activation of protusive forces
Bending the posterior vertical step
forward instead of 90 to 45 degrees

15. A 30 – 45 degree tip back bend can be
added to the junction between the
posterior vertical segment and the molar
segment for intrusive activation