TOOLS FOR USE WITH ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES AND METHODS FOR USING SUCH TOOLS

A tool to insert an archwire into an archwire slot of an orthodontic bracket including a handle and a plunger mechanism. A plunger is movable relative to the handle along an operational axis from a retracted to an extended position. An alignment member holds the archwire in the slot. The alignment member includes a pair of tines, each tine including a forked end. The forked end is an open-ended cutout with flats. The plunger includes a tip portion that engages a portion of the orthodontic bracket when the plunger is moved toward the extended position. The plunger mechanism includes a return spring to bias the plunger toward the retracted position. A method of inserting an archwire into an archwire slot using a tool including forcing the archwire into the slot with the tool and moving a movable member with the tool to capture the archwire in the slot.