Classification and Uses of Orthodontic Pliers

Pliers that cannot be missing in a dental clinic, discover what is each model for and get the most out of all the instruments with our help. In our previous post about how to choose the right pliers for each professional, and their group action according to their function, we classified them in: 

• Band Remover Pliers
• Adhesive Remover Pliers
• Contouring Pliers
• Press Pliers
• Hollow Pliers
• Loop Pliers
• Pliers for Elastics
• Specialized Orthodontic Pliers

For better information and peculiarities of each one, you can read the previous entry on the functionalities and how to choose the right orthodontic pliers for each professional.
Below, we describe the most popular models of each class:

Angle Pliers

The most popular plier in orthodontics, with a sturdy construction, thanks to its hard conical pyramidal tips. It can be found in short and long sizes.

Nance Pliers

The Nance pliers are ideal to create loops in different sizes and adjust the prefixed arches. It has a few peaks with four steps that allow you to make bends in the round and rectangular wire. The distance of each step allows making 3,4,5 and 6mm. loops.

Young Pliers

Instrument to bend wire and achieve loops, the Young pliers are the universal bending tool, it allows to realize loops in different sizes.

It allows for granting a uniform dimension to each helix.

Johnson Pliers

The Johnson Pliers are designed for contouring and adapting crowns and orthodontics bands. It has convex tips and concave tips that allow the band to be molded to the desired shape.

They end up being ideal for those bands that sometimes bend during colocation.

Band remover Pliers

The anterior model has a narrow groove in which the incisal edge of the anterior tooth is placed and the gingival tip is inserted into the gingival extension of the anterior band.

The model for posterior bands disposes of a sharp tip and on the other, a flat plastic base that is placed in occlusal and by pressure gets the removal of the band providing the patient with maximum comfort.

Brackets remover Pliers

The instrument to remove brackets adhered to the vestibular surface thanks to its active part in the shape of a pincer (incisal-gingival direction) easily removes the brackets.

There is a straight model, adequate for the anterior area, and a 60º angled model to get to the posterior area. The anterior model results are also adequate to remove the rest of the remnant adhesive over the enamel after removing the brackets.

A special variant is the Kurz Pliers designed specifically to remove the lingual brackets.

Distal cutting Pliers

Pliers are designed to cut the arches in their distal area both extra-orally and intra-orally. There are diverse types and varieties according to the capacity of cutting but its common characteristic is that they dispose of a safety mechanism to hold the excess end without it falling into the patient´s mouth.

Hard cut Pliers

These pliers are for cutting every type of wire and orthodontics arches. They are bigger and heavier than the rest of the pliers and need great quality steel or reinforced with tungsten carbide in its active part to cut without deformation.

Adams Pliers

One of the most known by dentists. Its active part consists of a beak formed by two flat triangular points with which right angles can be formed on the wire. 

Arrow Pliers

Arrow pliers serve to fold the closures in the form of an arrow thanks to their active part so that the tip of the arrow can engage the retentive underneath. 

It forms the closing of the form and small stops in the arc.

De la Rosa Pliers

De la Rosa pliers have a double active flat tip with slots where the steel wire is introduced.

Thanks to these guiding slots, these pliers allow to the formation of round and square arches and help to accentuate the curve of the wire arch.

Bird Beak Pliers

Bird Beak pliers are one of the most versatile instruments, they dispose of a round and a square tip and they are designed to bend wires of every type, with the square end 90º angles can be achieved, and with the other one, round shapes.

Weingart Pliers

Pliers are used to guide and moving the orthodontics arc in and out of the position of the bracket and also to bend the ends of the wire arch.

The curved tips facilitate the arch grip and guide into the buccal tubes, next to its active jagged part for better precision.