Weldable Accessories

Weldable Accessories

Not every attachment point in a case comes from a bracket. Sometimes an orthodontist needs a hook on a molar band, a button on the tongue side of a tooth, or a small cleat to tie an elastic to. Weldable accessories are those parts. Each is spot-welded to a band with a welder, adding an anchorage point exactly where the mechanics need one. They belong with fixed orthodontics.

Types at a glance

Each accessory does one job:

• Weldable button — a small round or oval knob, often welded to the lingual (tongue) side to attach an elastic or chain, e.g. for a rotated or impacted tooth. E.g. Koden weldable lingual buttons.
• Cleat — a small winged attachment for tying elastics or ligatures where a bracket wing is needed but no bracket sits.
• Weldable hook — a hook welded to a band to take inter-arch or other elastics from the elastics range.
• Lingual sheath — a small tube welded to the inside of a band to hold a lingual arch or auxiliary wire.

Weldable or bondable?

The same attachments come in two fixing styles, and the base tells them apart:

• Weldable — a mesh-free metal base spot-welded to a metal band. Strong and permanent for the band's life.
• Bondable — a mesh base glued directly to enamel with adhesive, used when there is no band.

This category is the weldable group, welded to the metal bands that carry them.

Match it to the job

Pick by what the attachment has to do:

• Attach an elastic on the lingual — a weldable button.
• Add a tie point where no bracket sits — a cleat.
• Take inter-arch elastics from a molar — a weldable hook.
• Hold a lingual arch or auxiliary — a lingual sheath.

Stainless steel is standard for strength and a clean weld. Keep a few types on the tray, since a single case can call for more than one. These attachments work alongside the molar-end tubes in the buccal tubes range.

What does "weldable" mean on these accessories?

It means the attachment has a plain metal base designed to be spot-welded onto a metal orthodontic band, rather than glued to the tooth. A welder fuses the base to the band, giving a strong, permanent fixing that lasts the life of the band. Bondable versions, by contrast, have a mesh base and are glued to enamel.

When would you use a weldable button?

When you need an attachment point where there is no bracket — most often on the lingual (tongue) side of a tooth, or on a molar band. A button gives an elastic or chain something to pull on. That is useful for rotating a tooth, bringing down an impacted one, or adding a tie point the bracket set does not provide.

Weldable or bondable — which should I choose?

It depends on whether there is a band. Weldable attachments are welded to a metal band, which is strong and durable for the whole treatment. Bondable attachments are glued to enamel and are used when no band is present. If the tooth already carries a band, weldable is the natural, sturdier choice.

What is the difference between a cleat, a button and a hook?

Their shape and purpose. A button is a round or oval knob for attaching an elastic or chain. A cleat is a small winged attachment for tying ligatures or elastics where a bracket wing would be. A hook is a projecting arm that holds inter-arch elastics. All three are welded on to add a tie point.

Do weldable accessories come in packs?

Yes, usually. Because these are small, frequently used parts, they are sold in packs — for example ten buttons to a pack. Buying in a pack is economical for a practice that uses them regularly and keeps spares on hand, since a case may need several across different teeth.