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specialty

Quad helix appliance

The quad helix appliance is a fixed .036 stainless steel expander with four helical loops, attached to the first molars on the upper or lower arch.

Expansion

Upper Quad Helix

The sweep arms are contoured to the gingival of the bicuspids and cuspids, and the lingual extensions can reach the anterior teeth if you want them. There's no screw, so nothing is turned at home, and you adjust it chairside. Choose it for slow arch expansion in the mixed dentition.

Anchorage
Banded, first molars
Patient age
Mixed dentition
Correction
Dentoalveolar transverse
Compliance
None, activated chairside
3D printing
Available
Turnaround
10 business days or faster

When it’s the right call.

Use it when
Posterior crossbite in the mixed dentition
Mesiolingually rotated upper first molars
Slow expansion with no screw turns at home
Arch form you want to adjust at each visit
Consider another appliance when
You need rapid skeletal expansion in a growing patient See Haas
The patient's midpalatal suture has matured See MARPE (4, 6 and 8 Eyelet)
You only need to hold molar position See Transpalatal Arch

Options you can prescribe.

Anchorage

Choose bands, ROC crowns, crowns or OnBRACE® (note OnBRACE® on the Rx). Also available 3D printed from your scan.

Lingual extensions

Extend the lingual arms to the anterior teeth if you want them.

Still deciding which expander?

Suture maturity, tooth-borne or tissue-borne, banded or bonded, and whether the patient's parents can manage screw turns. Those narrow the choice quickly.

What every
Upper Quad Helix case needs.

Send these with the case and it goes straight onto the bench. If anything’s missing, we call you before we start.

Upper and lower digital scans, or stone models if you work on stone
The completed Rx sheet, with your design choices marked
Your requested return date, so we schedule the case back from it

Resources for the Upper Quad Helix

The Rx sheet, instructions for use and chairside guides, ready to download or share with your team.

More expanders.

View All Expanders
FAQ

Questions about the Upper Quad Helix.

Ours is .036 stainless steel wire with four helical loops, attached to the first molar bands.

Yes. We make the quad helix for the upper or lower arch.

Both are fixed wire expanders anchored on the first molars. See the W-Arch page for how they compare.

Yes. The lingual extensions can be carried to the anterior teeth if you want them.

Haas, top view Distal Jet, top view MARPE 4 eyelet, front view

Send us your
next case.

Appliances that fit the first time and arrive on time.