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PG Canine Retraction Spring: Methods in Medicine

The PG canine retraction spring is introduced as an efficient design for frictionless canine retraction. It is constructed from 0.016"x0.022" stainless steel wire formed into overlapping double helices that provide good stability and moment-force ratio. Placement in 0.018" brackets is simple, with the anterior end in the canine bracket and posterior end in the second premolar bracket and molar tube. Activation of 1mm opening of the double helices provides about 160 grams of retraction force to retract the canine 1.5mm per month with bodily tooth movement. Anchorage from Nance buttons or headgear may be needed for moderate to high anchorage cases.

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456 views2 pages

PG Canine Retraction Spring: Methods in Medicine

The PG canine retraction spring is introduced as an efficient design for frictionless canine retraction. It is constructed from 0.016"x0.022" stainless steel wire formed into overlapping double helices that provide good stability and moment-force ratio. Placement in 0.018" brackets is simple, with the anterior end in the canine bracket and posterior end in the second premolar bracket and molar tube. Activation of 1mm opening of the double helices provides about 160 grams of retraction force to retract the canine 1.5mm per month with bodily tooth movement. Anchorage from Nance buttons or headgear may be needed for moderate to high anchorage cases.

Uploaded by

Ajay
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Methods in Medicine

PG Canine Retraction Spring


Lt Col Jaideep Sengupta*, Surg Cdr (D) SK Sharma+, Maj Dhirendra Sahu#

MJAFI 2003; 59 : 337-338

Introduction the routine inventory of an average orthodontic clinic.


Disadvantages are the same as in any retraction spring,
P G canine retraction spring was introduced to the
orthodontic profession way back in 1985 by Poul
Gjessing; it was not widely used till interest in it was
in not being failsafe in case of accidental distortion and
being liable to irritate the sulcular mucosa at least in the
renewed in recent years because of its adaptability to initial few days.
the now commonly used 0.018" pre-adjusted edgewise Construction : The PG spring [2-4] is made in
appliance system. The efficient design as well as the 0.016"x.022" stainless steel rectangular wire. It has
relatively rigid stainless steel wire, lends good stability gingivally directed overlapping double helices, ovoid in
to this retraction spring for use in frictionless orthodontic shape, 10mm in height and 5.5mm at its widest part (Fig
mechanics. 1). It also has a small occlusal helix 2mm in diameter.
Canine retraction is a very important step in most The wire is bent in such a way that the smaller end of
orthodontic procedures involving extraction of premolar the wire is continuous with the occlusal helix. This
teeth and is usually carried out by two methods : portion is the canine part and would fit into the canine
bracket. As it comes out of the occlusal helix, it is given
1) Retracting canines by sliding along a base wire
a 15° gingival turn. After forming the gingivally directed
(Frictional mechanics)
double helices, the longer arm of the wire is the one
2 Retracting the canine with a specially designed spring which is meant for engaging the premolar bracket and
attached to it without any base arch wire for the the molar tube; this being the molar portion. This
canine to slide on (Frictionless mechanics) posterior molar arm as it exits from the double ovoid
Contemporary Orthodontics by Proffit [1] describes loops is turned gingivally such that the wire makes an
the PG spring to be the most efficient current design for angle of 12° till approximately the second premolar
frictionless canine retraction. Rectangular stainless steel bracket and then turned up at an increased total
wire with overlapping ovoid loops provide good stability, angulation of 30° as shown in Fig 1. This portion is also
required moment-force ratio and good load deflection given an anti-rotation bend of 60° towards the canine
rates. It is constructed in the readily available tooth and then this bend after traversing the width of
0.016"x0.022" stainless steel wire and can be easily the spring is curved back in an exactly opposite direction
placed in the routinely used 0.018" brackets. Construction of the initial bend decreasing this to a final 35° (Fig 2).
and placement is easy and so is the activation. Its Placement and activation : The anterior end emerging
advantage as compared to other retraction springs is out from the smaller helix is placed as close as possible
the fact that it can be economically made and used within to the canine bracket and the front end is cinched. The

Fig. 1 : Right upper PG spring (palatal view) Fig. 2 : Right upper PG spring (occlusal view)

*+
Associate Professor, Department of Dental Surgery, #Resident (Orthodontics), Department of Orthodontics and Dental Surgery, Armed
Forces Medical College, Pune - 411 040.
338 Sengupta, Sharma and Sahu

Fig. 3 : PG canine retraction spring before retraction Fig. 4 : PG canine retraction spring after retraction

posterior end is placed into the second premolar bracket teeth involved.
and then into the 1st molar tube. The spring is pulled References
back till the double ovoid gingival loops open by 1mm
1. Proffit WR, Fields HW. Contemporary Orthodontics 3rd ed. St
and cinched back. This gives an approximate force of Louis, Mosby, 2000;574.
160 grams. A retraction of 1.5 mm is expected in one
2. Gjessing P. Biomechanical design and clinical evaluation of a
month. The PG spring in use is shown in Fig 3 and 4. new canine retraction spring. Am J Orthodontics 1985;87:353-
The spring induces bodily movement of teeth and 62.
anchorage, reinforcement by a Nance button or 3. Eden JD. An investigation into the characteristics of the PG
headgear is needed in moderate to high anchorage cases. canine retraction spring. Am J Orthodontics 1994;105:49-60.
A prerequisite before placing this spring is good rotational 4. Gjessing P. A Universal retraction spring. J Clinical
correction as well as levelling and alignment of the three Orthodontics 1994;28:222-42.

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MJAFI, Vol. 59, No. 4, 2003

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