Orthodontic Bracket Placement

Place the first bracket on the maxillary central incisor crown.

All the teeth to be bracketed are pumiced with a non flouride pumice, rinsed, dried, etched with phosphoric acid, rinsed, and dried again.

The dry etched surface of the tooth should appear chalky.

A sharp # 2 lead pencil is used to gently draw on the etched surface of the tooth.

The pencil lines will assist in finding the exact center of the clinical crown.

Draw a straight line that bisects the clinical crown and is parallel to the long axis of the clinical crown.

This light, thin pencil line should go through the center of the clinical crown.

Next draw a small line, perpendicular to the long axis line, that marks the exact center of the maxillary central incisor clinical crown.

You should see a cross in the center of the clinical crown.

The center of the two lines is where the center of the orthodontic bracket must be placed.