A bite stick is an orthodontic tool used to position bands correctly in braces. The stick is made of heat-resistant plastic and has a metal protrusion to push the band onto the tooth. It can withstand multiple sterilization cycles and is typically used for 50 cycles before being discarded.
A bite stick is an orthodontic tool used to help position bands correctly in a set of braces. The orthodontic appliance is a dental device composed of small attachments mounted on the teeth. These brackets have wire threaded between them, which forces the teeth to shape into the desired configuration. Sometimes plastic or metal bands are used as a mounting surface for the brackets and need to be placed around each individual tooth. These bands can be made from stainless steel or a variety of colored plastics.
Before being placed, the bands are sized to the teeth. The straps come in 50 different sizes and making sure the right one is selected is essential to make sure the straps don’t slip. Before applying them, the teeth must first be completely dried. This is usually done with cotton pads and a suction tube to ensure that all of the liquid in the mouth is collected.
The first band will be placed by an orthodontist, who may use a bite stick to help push the band onto the tooth. It’s a thin plastic tool with a triangular metal protrusion at one end. This metal is typically grooved, and when the patient bites down, the metal head will push the band onto the tooth. These gears must be able to withstand a large amount of impact pressure, as the bands are tightly fitted around the teeth. The bands are then coated with dental cement, which sets about five to ten minutes after they’re in place.
A bite stick is typically made of heat-resistant plastic, which allows it to withstand multiple sterilization cycles. Most withstand temperatures up to 450°F (216°C). They can also be subjected to cold or steam sterilization in an autoclave.
The bite sticks must be able to function even after sterilization in solutions, for example peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Typically, a bite stick will be able to withstand 50 such sterilization cycles without degradation of shape or color, before being discarded. Before the introduction of high-grade plastic, disposable wooden sticks were the norm.
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