Novel esthetic bonded retainers: a blend of art and science

Novel esthetic S2‐glass® fiber‐reinforced composite wires were fabricated in round (0.022 in.) and rectangular (0.021 x 0.028 in.) profiles, with flexural moduli comparable to martensitic nickel titanium and flexural strengths comparable to beta titanium wires. These wires were bonded clinically to the facial surfaces of teeth in three situations in which flexible‐bonded retainers are conventionally used: the retention of a closed median diastema, the retention of space closure following premolar extraction, and the retention of a canine that had been severely malpositioned. These bonded esthetic wires were monitored clinically up to 12 months to ascertain patient's acceptance and structural integrity of the retainer. No clinically observable defects were noted during the study, and no patient described any adverse intraoral effects from the retainer's presence. In this report and on the site http://www.clinorthodres.com/cor99-c-056, the indications for, and the present design philosophy of, flexible‐bonded retainers are discussed, along with the wire properties necessary to achieve optimal stability of tooth position. In addition to demonstrating excellent esthetic characteristics, these photo‐pultruded composite wires satisfy the flexural requirements necessary to achieve physiologic stability when used for flexible‐bonded retention.