Empower ® 2 Clear Self-Ligating brackets

American Orthodontics introduces Empower^® 2 Clear Self-Ligating brackets, a smartly redesigned enhancement of its esthetic bracket. Empower 2 Clear still offers the versatility and ease of self-ligation in a durable, esthetic, around-the-clock solution and improves treatment options by continuously implementing advanced technology.

Engineered from the ground up for performance and beauty, the polycrystalline material is formulated to deliver uncompromising strength. Empower 2 Clear brackets are designed using state-of-the-art CAD modeling and computerized simulation resulting in improved mechanical strength, leveraging the patented technology found in the Empower 2 Metal Bracket. Through extensive internal lab testing, American Orthodontics has also refined the debonding predictability of its patented Quad Matte™ technology — all without compromising the esthetic clarity of the bracket.

The robust bracket body design of Empower 2 Clear enhances durability without sacrificing tie-ability. The clip is now 20% thicker than the prior offering, providing increased wire seating force and reduced clip deformation. The trident shape of the clip offers better rotational control and helps seat wire during closure while adding a visual cue to confirm clip closure. Reduced binding friction results from the redesigned wire-slot chamfers, while opening and closing is enhanced through improvements in the clip track.

Empower brackets were the first in the industry to offer the versatility of either interactive or passive bracket designs in one unified system with coordinated in/outs. In the interactive bracket, the clip passively captures smaller wires and actively engages larger wires for lower ligation force early in treatment, and exceptional torque and rotation control during working and finishing stages. In the passive bracket, the clip passively captures all wire sizes for lower ligation forces throughout treatment. This Dual Activation System provides the best of both worlds — interactive and passive brackets in one unified system with excellent anterior control, improved posterior freedom play, and the time-saving benefits of self-ligation.

The various options available with the Dual Activation System of Empower afford great versatility as extensive prescription, wire, hook, and pad options allow development of a system unique to the treatment style of the orthodontist.

To complement Empower 2 Clear, AO has also introduced its new Luno^® Debond Tool. With a simple, intuitive mesial-distal rocking motion, the new Luno^® Debond Tool is specifically designed to debond ceramic or esthetic brackets such as Empower 2 Clear and Radiance Plus, the cosmetic twin bracket from American Orthodontics created from a single crystal of pure grown sapphire.

The new Luno^® Debond Tool retains the bracket upon debond from the tooth surface and will remove brackets while leaving the archwire intact.

“One of the great benefits of this new tool is it does not require any removal of flash prior to debond,” says AO Product Manager Lindsey Cadoo. “The feedback we have received from our users has been extremely positive.”

Just like every Luno^® cutter, bender, and plier, the Ceramic Debond Tool is precision manufactured to effectively prevent corrosion and is tested beyond industry standards. Each Luno^® instrument is laser engraved with lot numbers and wire specifications to assist in quality control and to ensure it is the right instrument for the right job. The smooth polished surface with a patented two-tone finish provides optimum comfort while in the hand of the dentist and in the mouth of the patient. With a focus on ergonomics, Luno^® is ideal for orthodontists and patients alike.

Please contact your AO Representative for additional information.

This information was provided by American Orthodontics.