Finishing Wires
The final series of rectangular stainless steel or beta-titanium archwires used in the closing stages of fixed appliance treatment to achieve precise tooth positioning and root parallelism.
Full Definition
Finishing wires are the last archwires placed during fixed appliance therapy, typically made from stainless steel (e.g., 0.019 × 0.025 inch) or beta-titanium alloy (TMA), which fill the bracket slot to a high percentage and allow three-dimensional control of tooth position. They are used to refine alignment, close any residual spaces, correct axial inclinations, and achieve the final desired occlusion before debond. The term appears in clinical progress notes, appliance sequence records, and archwire prescription documentation. Editors should note that 'finishing' is an adjective modifying 'wires' here, not a gerund, and the term is rendered in the plural.
Usage
Usage note: Always write as two words, not 'finishingwires.' Archwire dimensions should be expressed in the format 0.019 × 0.025 inch (numeric × numeric unit), not as fractions.
In Context
- "Stainless steel 0.019 × 0.025-inch finishing wires were placed in both arches, with step bends to optimise molar occlusion." — Clinical progress notes
- "The protocol section lists archwire sequences; ensure 'finishing wires' is used for the final stage and 'levelling wires' for the initial stage." — Research methods edit