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ePaper created 2018-03-13, 09:28:55 | version 1.38.0
| case series Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 7: The Frankel orthodontic appliance with a fractured wire. Fig. 8: The orthodontic appliance repaired. Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 9: The Delaire appliance with a broken wire arm. Fig. 10: Laser welding of the appliance. Fig. 11: The appliance repaired. Case 2 An 8-year-old male patient in treatment in our office with a Schwartz removable orthodontic appliance came to us for periodic checking of the appliance, and we saw that one of the Adam’s hooks had broken (Fig. 3). We welded it without filler metal (Fig. 4), and the plastic shield, although very close to the welding zone, was not damaged or modified (Fig. 5). We were able to reseat the repaired appliance in the patient’s mouth after only some minutes (Fig. 6). Case 3 An 8-year-old male patient in treatment in our office with a Frankel removable orthodontic appliance came to us for periodic checking of the appliance, and we saw that one of the wires had broken (Fig. 7). We welded it without metal filler (Fig. 8), and the plastic shield, although very close to the welding zone, was not damaged or modi- fied. We were able to reseat the repaired appliance in the patient’s mouth after only some minutes. Case 4 A 14-year-old male patient came to our office with the lingual wire of his appliance broken. The appliance was an orthodontic appliance called Delaire consisting of two wires, one vestibular and one lingual, connected to two braces on first maxillary molars (Fig. 9). Owing to the presence of a sizable restoration on the first maxillary right molar, we decided not to remove the appliance and to perform an intra-oral laser welding. A previously made screen in silicone was used to protect the soft tissue, and the appliance was welded without filler metal; the entire operation lasted 4 minutes; the welding was done in 75 s (Fig. 10). After a few minutes, without having to send it to the dental laboratory and with no discomfort to the patient, the appliance could be repaired (Fig. 11). The follow-up was done monthly for six months and showed that the appliance was active and strength-proof. Case 5 A 14-year-old female patient, in orthodontic treatment with a Veltri fixed appliance to open the space in the upper arch in order to insert the second premolar, came to us for a normal check of the appliance, and it was observed that an arm had broken near the brace of the first pre- molar (Fig. 12). The removal of the appliance in order to send it to the laboratory was deemed as having too many risks, since the treatment was still in the activation phase. Therefore, it was decided to perform an intra-oral laser welding. In order to protect the soft tissue, a silicone film 08 ortho 1 2018