A Minimalist Approach To Orthodontic Therapy

The edgewise and ribbon arch brackets developed by Angle allowed the control of teeth in three dimensions and this encouraged the engagement of the entire dentition with brackets. However, a considerable number of orthodontists resisted this approach and continued to use appliances that minimized the use of bands and brackets or avoided bands and brackets altogether. This article illustrates a patient therapy that used a minimal edgewise orthodontic appliance coupled with an accurate diagnosis and visualized treatment objective to achieve reasonable treatment goals.

Before Angle’s development of the ribbon arch¹ and edgewise² brackets, clinicians seldom placed attachments on individual teeth since they had scant interest in precisely positioning each tooth in the dentition.