What You Need to Know About Kobayashi Hooks and Ligature Steel Ties

Have you ever wondered about the main differences between Kobayashi Hooks and Ligature Steel Ties? These two techniques can offer various pros and cons, and keeping this in mind as part of your orthodontics treatment planning can help. Fortunately, we’ve summarized some of the key things you should know about using Kobayashi Hooks and Ligature Steel Ties in orthodontics to help.
The Differences Between Kobayashi Hooks and Ligature Steel Ties
If you’ve been wondering about the main differences between Kobayashi Hooks and Ligature Steel Ties, there are several key things to keep in mind.
Kobayashi Hooks are predominantly used as an add-on hook, which can potentially bother the patient, but they do make working with elastics easier. Hooks may be needed on almost any tooth, depending on the patient’s requirements, which is where the Kobayashi Hooks come in. They are very similar to Ligature Steel Ties, but their function is to hook an elastic on.
By contrast, a Ligature Tie is used for many different applications, such as under tie, lace back, or long tie cases. Moreover, these can be used in scenarios when an o-ring doesn’t fully engage, preventing you from proceeding with the treatment plan.
It’s worth noting that both options can come in different gages, depending on your choice of distributor. Ligature ties may be more effective on the lighter side for short options; meanwhile, a mid to heavy gage may be more effective for long Ligature Ties.
Find Out More with our Straightwire Classes
If you’d like to find out more about Kobayashi Hooks and Ligature Steel Ties in orthodontics cases, make sure to check out our classes or view more of our Straightwire videos on our YouTube channel.