9 months
Due to the significant mesial crown tip of the 46, a hybrid mandibular archwire technique was implemented (Figure 3). The rigid rectangular (0.016” × 0.022”) stainless steel archwire ended at the distal aspect of the 44. A sectional flexible nickel-titanium (0.016”) wire was placed from the 43 to the 46 and was located underneath the rectangular steel archwire in the 43 and 44 region. The TAD between the 43 and 44 was connected to the 43 and 44 brackets with a fine stainless steel ligature wire. This ligature wire, along with the rectangular stainless steel archwire provided stabilising anchorage for the 43 and 44, as the reciprocal biomechanical force generated from the uprighting of the mesially tipped 46 was expected to be significant. These fixed appliance components provided effective stabilisation to prevent undesirable movement of the 43 and 44.