1. Start by micro-etching the back of U 2-2 to remove any plaque or film so we can bond the permanent retainers to a clean surface. Once you have micro etched thoroughly, have the patient go rinse out at the brushing station WITH WATER ONLY!

2. Using a piece of articulating paper, check the patients occlusion. If pt has a deep bite, you are going to have to be super meticulous when bonding this permanent retainer to ensure pt will not be biting on it. If you have to sculpt retainer very close to gum line, use bond-a-braid instead of Retainium. These next few steps explaining how to bond the upper retainer is the way you will bond it every time. Some assistants from previous ortho offices were trained to bond and U perm with floss and Dr Frost does not want anyone doing it this way. So keep an open mind. After a few times of doing it Dr Frost’s way, it is super easy and you will love it!

3. Cut a piece of retainium (or bond a braid) about a half an inch longer than you will need and end the end so that when the wire is held straight it is bent at a 45 degree angle.

4. To prep the tooth, using the air syringe, dry each tooth for 5 seconds. Then using a microbrush, take a light layer of etch and gently dab the etch on the backside of each tooth. Once the etch has sat on each tooth for 30 seconds you are going to continue to rinse the etch. Take the large suction in your left hand, and the water syringe in your right, starting with the first tooth you etched (in the same order) rinse each tooth for 5 seconds. You want to make sure that not a drop of etch is left because that can contaminate the bonding surface. After the etch has been rinsed, dry each tooth again for 5 seconds each tooth. Once you are confident that the tooth is frosty and has not been contaminated, use a clean microbrush dipped in ortho solo and apply a lightly layer to each tooth and continue to dry each tooth one last time for 5 seconds. Make sure the ortho solo is completely dry!!

5. After teeth are prepped, start on the upper right lateral and with the bent end angled up towards the gum tissue, use the handle end of the cotton pliers to burnish the wire against the lateral and apply a small amount of adhesive (use a micro brush that is slightly wet with ortho solo to successfully flow the adhesive onto the tooth). When smoothing the adhesive over the wire, make sure you keep the adhesive away from the gum tissue and the incisal edge. Make sure adhesive is flat and not a mound or bubble. After the wire is bonded to the UR2, you will move onto the UR1 and follow those same steps listed above. Before you bond to the UL2, you will use a ligature cutter and trim off whatever is necessary to match the length of what we started with on the UR2. Once the wire is trimmed, you will use the flat end of the cotton pliers to push the wire flush up against tooth. Once wire is flush, you will use the other end of the cotton pliers to push (gently) the wire so it will be angled 45 degrees like the UR2. Once it is bent and flush, you can add adhesive.

*****Once the permanent retainer is bonded, check bite to make sure pt is not hitting on it anywhere!!!******* The doctor can adjust the bite to help if needed.