In part one of this 2-part series we covered the wire gauge showing you how to use the device. Today, we are covering the different type of wires that you would use in your office.  Each wire has different properties ranging from rigid to flexible. In order to know how to use the wire best we need to know what type of wire we are dealing with.

In the video below Mike walks you through the differences of each. Here’s a quick overview:

• Stainless Steel wires are rigid and have very little flexibility.
• CNA wires are more solvent and although it’s still rigid it allows a little more flexibility.
• Nickle Titanium is considered more flexible and elastic having the ability to bend and snap right back into place.
• Thermal Plus Niti has the same properties as Niti but when chilled, can be formed and easily manipulated without putting stress on you bracket. Then the warmth of the mouth allows the wire to return to it’s original form.

Check out the video to see more details.

If you’re one of our doctors you’ve experienced the #FiveStarWay. We take a consultative approach – supporting our doctors with case consults, how to training videos, webinars and more. In this two-part series we take a look at how to use a Wire Gauge & differentiating between the types of archwires.

So, you may be asking yourself “how would this information come in handy when applied to your practice day-to-day?”

Has this ever happened to you?

Your Archwire rack is knocked off the counter and you’re stuck with different size wires all over the floor! We know the feeling and we’ve got you covered- enter The Wire Gauge.

The Wire Gauge is lightweight and made of stainless steel. This tool is used to measure round, square, and rectangular wires. This is your go to device to help verify wire sizes and maintain quality control. It’s simple – you’re able to place the wire into the wire slot and determine the right size.

Watch one of our experts Mike show you how to use the Wire Gauge to verify the size of your wire.

In part 2 of this series we will show you how to differentiate between the different types of wires. 

If you need to add a Wire Gauge to your toolkit just check out our shop here.

Five Star is happy to announce the launch of our new Doctor friendly customer portal! In today’s fast-paced marketplace your time is important. Technology has changed the way we all do business. The speed of information available at our fingertips is changing the way business is done. We at Five Star want to be as efficient as possible for our doctors. We are happy to introduce our new customer portal to get doctors any info they need with a few clicks of a button! No longer will you call in with minor questions you need answering or wait to get an answer to your questions. Instead, register with our new portal and be able to find all the info you need!

After Registration

Once you register, you will have access to the following features:

— View all your cases and see case status, make comments to Five Star on each case if you have specific requirements. Set up alerts and notifications to inform when a new case is entered/invoiced/put on hold. The alerts and notifications can be specified as well, whether that be via an email alert, or even text alerts in real time. Also, if you want an alert that is an option via email or text message.

— Print Rx’s

— View tracking of your cases once shipped

— Pay any balance with a credit card on file, view your current balances and payments due, view statements and invoices.

To register, visit fivestarortho.com, then click on ‘Login’ under the ‘Portal Login’ tab to sign up and get registered. You are sent to our portal site and click the ‘REGISTER’ button at the top left. Fill out the six fields with your practice’s info and you are ready to go! We’ve included a user guide on our site to help walk you through the process and we’re always here to help! Contact us at 800-521-2351. Ask for Jake if you have any issues setting up.

● NOTE: In order to register, you must have an account established with Five Star Orthodontic Laboratory & Supply. To establish an account, please complete the New Account Form and email it to beth@fivestarortho.com. We will then contact you to complete your account setup.

Do you have trouble with patients complying with hygiene? Are you tired of seeing decalcification around your brackets during treatment? Are you tired of seeing discoloration of teeth because of poor hygiene during orthodontic treatment?  Five Star has the solution for you!

DenteShield™ is an orthodontic bond and sealant that contains Seldox™ technology. DenteShield™ is a selenium-based antimicrobial agent that is safe and has been FDA approved. Seldox™ is a selenium-based antimicrobial agent and has a patented formulation of organic compounds proven to inhibit bacterial growth. Selenium is safe and is a naturally occurring element that is non-toxic, and the amount within the product is minimal and won’t hurt you.

Clinical tests show a significant reduction or elimination of demineralization, are white spot lesions, around orthodontic brackets with teeth treated with Seldox™ technology. Seldox™ technology creates a blanket of protection on the teeth just like a sealant would. When bacteria attempt to colonize on the Seldox™ surface, it significantly reduces bacterial growth and plaque. Surfaces treated with Seldox™ remain cleaner due to less bacterial growth and plaque accumulation on the tooth.

DenteShield™ can replace your current orthodontic bond resin. Use it as your bond and don’t have to add any other bonding agent to it. If you are happy with the bond resin you’re using, you can use this in addition to your resin already in use. Apply DenteShield™ first, cure it, and then apply your bond resin if you choose.

Check out this link to clinical studies on Seldox™ technology! : Seldox™

Purchase your bottle of DenteShield™ here! : DenteShield™

Five Star is proud to introduce its new line of Memory Gear upper expanders! These expanders will self-activate to expand upon delivery. The Memory Gear expanders are designed with individual leaf springs in the middle of the gear. Each leaf spring equals 1 ½ mm of activation. The leaf springs compress when received back from the lab and will continue to expand 1 ½ mm per leaf. When you receive the appliance back from the lab, it will be held together with a metal prong tool. Deliver the appliance with the tool in place, and then remove the tool and the gear will be activated.

There are 2 styles of memory gear expanders we have to offer. The first is the re-activation memory gear. This will expand on initial delivery in the mouth, and then can be re-activated for any additional expansion. There are 2 sizes, one will expand 3 mm upon initial delivery, and the other will expand 4 ½ mm upon initial delivery. It can then reactivate to expand an additional 3-4 mm. When it is first delivered in the mouth the expander will be active for approximately 2 months. After 2 months has passed, you can re-activate the gear for additional expansion by turning the gear like you would a normal RPE. Each turn on a memory gear expander is .1 mm, which means for every 10 activations you will load the appliance 1mm.

The 2^nd style of memory gear expander is fully self-activating. It will look the same when it comes back from the lab held together with a metal prong. Then simply remove the tool and the appliance will activate. There are also 2 sizes of the self-activating memory gear. One is 6mm and the other is 9mm. You will get the full expansion of each gear upon activation. If you do not require that amount of expansion, you can deactivate the gear by placing flowable composite over the springs.

Click here for activation instructions!

Click here to view all our expanders!