Wire Sequence Planner Calculator
Plan arch wire progression from initial NiTi alignment through stainless steel finishing wires with timing estimates.
Inputs
mm
years
Results
Total Wire Changes
6
Total Wire Time (months)11.4
Initial Alignment (months)3
Working Phase (months)4.2
Finishing Phase (months)2.3
Crowding Factor1
Age Factor0.85
Arch NameBoth Arches
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the starting wire size/material and target final wire size for the case.
- Enter planned treatment phases (leveling, space closure, finishing) and bracket slot size.
- Read recommended wire sequence progression and estimated months per wire.
- Review cumulative treatment duration from first wire to final finishing wire.
- Adjust sequence based on individual patient response and case complexity at each appointment.
What each input means
- Crowding (mm)
- Total arch crowding in millimeters.
- Bracket System
- 0 = Self-ligating (Damon, Speed), 1 = Conventional twin brackets.
- Patient Age
- Patient age affects wire change intervals.
- Extraction Case
- 0 = Non-extraction, 1 = Extraction case (adds space-closure wire).
- Arch Treated
- 0 = Both arches, 1 = Upper only, 2 = Lower only.
What each result means
- Total Wire Changes
- Total number of arch wires in the sequence.
- Total Wire Time (months)
- Estimated total time across all wires.
- Initial Alignment (months)
- Time in initial NiTi alignment wires.
- Working Phase (months)
- Time in rectangular working wires including space closure.
- Finishing Phase (months)
- Time in stainless steel finishing wires.
- Crowding Factor
- Multiplier applied to alignment phases based on crowding severity.
- Age Factor
- Duration multiplier based on patient age.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersCrowding (mm) = 4, Bracket System = 0, Patient Age = 14, Extraction Case = 0 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total Wire ChangesTotal Wire Changes6 = 6
- Calculate Total Wire TimeTotal Wire Time11.4 = 11.4
- Calculate Initial AlignmentInitial Alignment3 = 3
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