What happens when you start to move a tooth has been the focus of scientific study since appliances first came into use more than a century ago. There are countless articles describing the physical displacement of a tooth, the effects of compression and decompression of the periodontal tissues, the biochemistry which accompanies the process, etc. It comes as a shock to discover that the widely … [Read more...]
Why the ALF appliance? Part 2
Science now recognizes that there are two types of system in nature. One is known as a closed system and describes what happens with inorganic materials. A closed system functions like a machine. It has entropy, meaning that over time there is increasing disorder, with loss of energy and eventual breakdown. This system acts in a linear way, meaning that a force applied at point A will cause a … [Read more...]
Why The ALF Appliance? Part 1
Over the years, dental practitioners have developed a variety of orthodontic appliance systems—both fixed and removable. What makes the Advanced Light-wire Functional (ALF) Appliance so special? Why has it become the center of so much attention? To answer these questions properly involves much more than just a description of the ALF’s technical features or its use in palatal expansion. The ALF … [Read more...]
The Insertion and Adjustment of the Advanced Lightwire Functional Appliance (Video)
This downloadable video outlines the clinical procedures and techniques of working with the advanced lightwire functional appliance. The 30 minute video will guide you through the clinical steps of the fitting and adjustment of the A.L.F appliance. We have provided a preview of the video below. (Can't view this? Click here to download the preview) Price US$ 150.00 All sales are final. Please … [Read more...]
Facing Forward Issue 4 – The Case of the Half-chewed Hockey Puck
Sometimes it is the unexpected event that leads to the most interesting answers. Patient KB was a healthy sport-minded 6 year-old. In Canada that means ice hockey above all else. He had an Angle Class 1 occlusion with potential mild crowding of the maxillary incisors Fig 2. Otherwise his only dental problem was severe grinding of his teeth at night, something he had done for several … [Read more...]
