An In Vitro Assessment of Wear Rate of Various Bite Turbo Materials

In the practice of orthodontics, there are several indications for opening a patients bite. Fixed orthodontic appliances, although relatively small, have the potential to interfere with a patient's occlusion and ability to function. Such interferences can lead to significant abrasion of the dentition or result in debonding of brackets. Additionally, certain malocclusions, such as anterior crossbites, may require bite-opening to facilitate needed orthodontic movements[1].Historically, fixed and removable appliances made of metal and acrylic have been utilized to temporarily open the bite to achieve treatment objectives; however, such appliances require lab fabrication and patient compliance. As bonding materials and methods have improved, many orthodontists have turned to a variety of resins and glass ionomers as a convenient and predictable method to open a patients bite. These bonded attachments are commonly referred to as bite turbos.