3M Unitek Preformed Lingual Arch, Horizontal
A preformed horizontal lingual arch with double-back bends on the distal loops, supplied across a range of arch lengths for molar anchorage cases.
The Preformed Lingual Arch, Horizontal type, is a fixed orthodontic appliance cemented to the molar bands and running along the lingual surface of the lower or upper arch, most commonly used to maintain space or provide posterior anchorage during treatment. Its distal loops feature a double-back bend, a design detail that helps the loop resist unwanted deformation and keeps the arch stable in the mouth over the months it stays in place.
Because arch length varies from patient to patient, this appliance is supplied preformed across a wide range of lengths, listed in both imperial and metric measurements in the specification data, so the clinician can select the closest match to the patient's arch rather than needing to bend a custom wire chairside.
This product line is transitioning from the Unitek name to the Solventum Preformed Lingual Arches line as the manufacturer updates its branding, though the appliance itself continues to serve the same anchorage and space maintenance role in fixed and interceptive orthodontic treatment. Practices that use preformed lingual arches as a standard anchorage appliance keep a spread of lengths in stock to fit the range of arch sizes seen across their patient base.
