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exhibitors Ortho Tribune U.S. Edition | May 17, 201510 By Armineh Khachatoorian Brand Manager, 3M Unitek O ur goal at 3M Unitek is to enhance patient lives and comfort, while helping or- thodontists work smarter and achieve better results. We provide solu- tions that improve and shorten the treat- ment process, so patients spend less time at orthodontic appointments and more time doing what’s really important — enjoying friends and family. 3M Unitek surveyed buccal tube users from around the world to understand the performance and features they deemed most important in these fundamental appliances. They represented users of buccal tubes from a variety of manu- facturers, including 3M Unitek. The top priorities among survey respondents were good tooth-to-base fit, ease of wire insertion, patient comfort and ease of po- sitioning and handling. In response to this extensive input, Vic- tory Series™ Superior Fit Buccal Tubes were designed to meet orthodontist’s requirements, starting with a large com- pound contour base for superior fit and stability. They also feature an exclusive con- toured funneled archwire slot for easy wire insertion, a low profile and flush- mount hook for added patient comfort, and improved gripping and handling characteristics (Fig. 1). To develop this new product, 3M Uni- tek combined more than 60 years of orthodontic design experience with advanced 3M technologies, including finite element analysis and the 3M Soft- ware, Electronic and Mechanical Systems (SEMS) Group’s proprietary software. Improved fit and functionality It’s all about the base! Enhancing tooth- to-base fit was a top priority in designing the new Victory Series Superior Fit buc- cal tubes. The 3M SEMS group developed proprietary software that created an ide- al base from many patient samples. Next, new bases were designed around repre- sentative first and second molars. Outer “wings” were added to the me- sial and distal sides to address the mesial- distal and occlusal-gingival curvatures of the base. These proprietary structures curve around and “hug” the tooth’s clini- cal crown to enhance tooth-to-base fit. Unlike the angled transition area found in most straight-sided funnel entry sys- tems, Victory Series Superior Fit buccal tubes have a new funnel entry that fea- tures curved funnel sides that gradually taper to the archwire slot. This new entry is designed to receive the archwire on the Victory Series Superior Fit Buccal Tubes: Better fit for better results first try by enabling the archwire to be smoothly inserted into the archwire slot (Fig. 2). Features for better handling and placement Several new features were added to as- sist clinicians in easy placement. The top (buccal side) of the buccal tube was made parallel to the tube’s torque plane. The gripping notch of the buccal tube was im- proved to be perpendicular to the torque plane of the bracket. Aligning these surfaces either perpen- dicular or parallel to the torque plane gives clinicians several areas to push the buccal tube onto the tooth without hav- ing the buccal tube slide away during the bonding process. A mesial-distal visual line also was added along the buccal side of the tube to help clinicians align the tube during placement on the tooth. Preventing occlusion of the lower first molar buccal tubes with the upper teeth was a critical design requirement, and much work went into reducing the tube’s occlusal profile. In order to maintain a reasonable funnel area on such a low profile tube, the mesial end of the tube was extended in the gingival direction, increasing the funnel entry area without negatively affecting the tube’s occlusal profile. Designed for practicality and comfort, the tubes feature a flush-mount, smooth, rounded hook. Victory Series Superior Fit buccal tubes also are available with APC™ Adhesive coating (Fig. 3). What evaluators tell us • “We all loved the design of the actual tube. The fluted/flared mesial opening made wire insertion simple, even in dif- ficult, mesially rotated molars. The tube is easily held for placement during bond- ing ... extremely secure and very unlikely to slip or spin as occurs frequently with other tubes we have used,” said Dr. Ross Taddeo, of Orlando, Fla. • “Being a huge advocate of only band- ing lower molars, I was very skeptical of even trying a bonded bracket on the low- er 6’s. The new Victory Series Superior Fit Buccal Tubes just fit so well into the occlusion and having them fit right into our pre-coated bonding system made it seamless. Overall, I could not be hap- pier!” said Dr. Scott McCranels, of West Palm Beach, Fla. For more information here at the AAO, please visit 3M Unitek’s booth, No. 1129. Fig. 3 Fig. 2 Fig. 1 Photos/Provided by 3M Unitek Here at the AAO To learn more about 3M Unitek’s Victory Series Superior Fit Buccal Tubes, visit 3M Unitek’s booth, No. 1129, or visit 3MUnitek.com/SuperiorFit. ‘We all loved the design of the actual tube. The fluted/flared mesial opening made wire insertion simple, even in difficult, mesially rotated molars.’