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Author Topic: Dark strokes on archwire: what for?  (Read 3194 times)

Offline brax

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Dark strokes on archwire: what for?
« on: 28. February 2021, 19:32:40 PM »
On many pictures of braces, one can see three small, dark strokes (markers) in the middle of the (upper) archwire, on the front, between the two brackets of the front teeth. What are these strokes for?

They are often barely visible or just if you look closer. See here for an example:
https://dereferer.me/?https://www.flickr.com/photos/10918788@N07/999503455/
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Offline duncombec

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Re: Dark strokes on archwire: what for?
« Reply #1 on: 28. February 2021, 21:57:51 PM »
I don't know for certain, but I'd guess they were some sort of centre mark, so the orthodontist could line the archwire up correctly?
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Offline Bandsandwires

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Re: Dark strokes on archwire: what for?
« Reply #2 on: 01. March 2021, 00:19:45 AM »
Yes, I think the marks show the centre line of the archwire.
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Offline brax

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Re: Dark strokes on archwire: what for?
« Reply #3 on: 01. March 2021, 01:18:00 AM »
That's what I supposed as well, so it seems to be a valuable hypothesis. Would be great to get a confirmation if someone knows for sure.
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Offline MikeB

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Re: Dark strokes on archwire: what for?
« Reply #4 on: 01. March 2021, 16:19:38 PM »
My wife asked about that when she had her braces. The ortho assistant told her they were to help with aligning/centering the archwire properly.
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