3M Unitek Gurin Intraoral Hook for Elastics
A small intraoral hook that attaches to the archwire and gives a secure attachment point for hooking orthodontic elastics during treatment.
The Gurin Intraoral Hook is a small orthodontic accessory attached to the archwire to create a defined point for hooking elastics, used wherever a treatment plan calls for intermaxillary or intramaxillary elastic wear that cannot be anchored directly to a bracket. Having a purpose-built hook rather than relying on a bracket hook or ligature loop gives the clinician a more consistent, secure place for the patient to attach an elastic band at home, which matters for compliance since a hook that is awkward to use can discourage regular elastic wear.
This accessory is supplied under several catalog numbers, reflecting different sizes or hook orientations available to suit different archwire positions and elastic wear patterns prescribed by the treating orthodontist. Intraoral hooks like this are a small but frequently used item in day to day orthodontic practice, since elastic wear is a common part of correcting bite discrepancies alongside the main fixed appliance mechanics.
Practices that prescribe elastics regularly keep a stock of hooks in different configurations so the right one is available whichever archwire size or hook placement a given patient needs.
