3M Unitek Nitinol Coil Spring, Open and Closed Coil
Nitinol coil springs available in open or closed coil patterns across light, medium and heavy force options, used for orthodontic space management.
Unitek Nitinol Coil Springs are used on the archwire to open or close spaces between teeth as part of orthodontic treatment mechanics, taking advantage of the superelastic properties of nitinol to deliver a light, continuous force over an extended range of activation. This listing covers both the closed coil pattern, typically used to pull teeth together and close residual spaces, and the open coil pattern, used to push teeth apart and create or maintain space along the arch.
Each pattern is available in three force levels, light, medium and heavy, letting the treating orthodontist select the force appropriate to the specific tooth movement, the stage of treatment and how much anchorage needs to be preserved elsewhere in the arch. Because nitinol maintains a more consistent force over its working range compared with stainless steel coil springs, it is a common choice where predictable, steady force delivery matters more than a stronger but rapidly decaying force.
These springs are cut to length and placed at chairside adjustment visits, and practices doing regular space closure or space opening mechanics keep a stock of both patterns across all three force levels to cover the range of cases they see.
