3M Unitek Lateral Development Archwire, Titanium

The Lateral Development Archwire is used in orthodontic treatment where the goal is to encourage lateral, or side to side, development of the dental arch, typically to gain arch width and improve alignment without resorting to extraction. It is offered in three material options, Beta Titanium, Nitinol and Stainless Steel, giving the clinician the choice of force characteristics best suited to the stage of treatment, from the lighter, more flexible forces of nitinol and beta titanium early on to the greater rigidity of stainless steel as treatment progresses.

102 inches respectively, letting the orthodontist match the wire to the specific amount of lateral development needed for a given case. As the manufacturer updates its branding, this archwire is transitioning from the Unitek name to the Solventum Lateral Development Archwire line, while the material options and length range remain the defining features practices look for when specifying this type of wire for arch development treatment.