Fabrication Tips

The Bionator has three components:

the acrylic base the tongue bow or coffin spring the labial buccal wire.

The Bionator Base The Bionator acrylic base has an upper component and lower component which is connected to a monoblock. The upper component starts distal to the canines and extends back to the last tooth having an occlusal plan covering 3/4 of the posterior tooth surface. The acrylic has a height of approximately 4mm higher than the gingival margin.

The lower component extends from the last tooth present all the way round the lingual surface of the mandible and has in the incisor region a smooth ideal surface and extends 3 4 mm under the gingival margin. !ll outer surfaces and edges should have a plan smooth glossy finish. "nner surfaces should also be glossy and polished. The occlusal boxes should not be polished. #helps examining tooth eruption$

The second molars should be considered when planning construction of the Bionator. "f they are erupting or about to erupt an occlusal box should be provided in order to control their height.

The tongue guide or coffin spring Bent out of %&' mm hard wire with % mm distance from the palate follows the alveolar mesial and enters the acrylic bases in the first premolar region and extends not more distally than the distal edge of the first molar.

The Labial and Buccal wire (onstructed out of ).* mm hard the labial wire starts on the upper labial surface extending to the distal edge of the lateral incisors then bent down towards occlusal and bend distally to run parallel with the occlusal plan on about the same plan as the gingival margin extending on to the first third of the first molar. The bow then does a + curve and continues parallel until reaching the middle of the first premolar& then bent towards the occlusion plan the wire is then bent towards the Bionator base to enter the base exactly on the occlusal plan between the canine and premolar being careful not to get in the way of the erupting lower canine.

Insider note:

"n order to protect the wire at this point against being damaged by trimmers while the appliance is being finished a silicon tube can be placed at the point the wire will enter the acrylic& breakage often occurs at this point. The tube should be cut off before delivery.

The labial wire portion should be positioned in the high third of the incisors with approximately )&%mm distance from them. Insider note: Three prong pliers should not be used to construct the Bionator& first it shows incompetency in wire bending secondly the pliers leave marks on the wire causing premature breakage.

To be continued describing the (lass """ Bionator and the ,pen Bite Bionator