TORQUE GUIDELINES

1. Crowding
a. Low torque in the area with crowding (upper or lower )
b. Standard or high torque at the cuspids, most of the times; just in a few
cases low torque at cuspids, i.e. impacted canines.
c. In severe upper crowding, you can increase negative torque at the upper
centrals incisors BRACKET UP SIDE DOWN, change the prescription
from 2 to -2. ( Just in the central ones)
2. Bicuspids Extractions (Upper & lower)
a. High torque at the upper
b. High torque at the lower (Low torque inverted 2-2 +11)
c. High torque at the cuspids (upper & lower) ... in the lower prescription,
there are cuspids with high torque, because of that, we dont need
inverted braces in these teeth.
3. Class II malocclusions.
a. Class II elastics
b. Advansync, Herbst, Forsus, CS 3000 springs.
c. Extractions (upper 4s)
d. Distalization procedures (TADS IZC, Pendulum appliances, etc.)
e. High torque at the upper.
f. Low torque at the lower.
4. Class II with orthognathic surgery as a treatment plan.
a. With lower bicuspids extractions
i. Low torque inverted at the lower incisors (2-2)
ii. High torque at the lower 3s
b. Without extractions
i. Standard torque at the lower incisors.
ii. Low torque if the incisors are flared.
c. Low torque at the upper (class III elastics/ mechanics)
5. Class II div 2
a. High torque at the upper central incisors (+22)
b. Low torque at the upper lateral incisors. (-5)
c. High torque inverted at the upper lateral incisors ( -13), this is risky, so
you must check laterals roots (CBCT) and avoid 19 x 25 as a finishing wire.
6. Class III malocclusions
a. Class III elastics
b. TADS buccal shelf
c. CS 3000 spring.
d. Stripping at the lower teeth
e. Low torque at the upper.
 f. Standard / low torque inverted at the lower (Check the initial IMPA) i.e.
CS 3000 spring, as a treatment plan + initial IMPA 88 + no crowding, I
would use low torque inverted at the lower incisors. Same treatment +
initial IMPA 93+ mild crowdingstandard torque at the lower incisors.
7. Class III malocclusions
a. Lower bicuspids extractions as a treatment plan.
i. Low torque inverted at the lower (+11)
ii. Low torque at the upper.
8. Class III with orthognathic surgery as a treatment plan
a. High torque at the upper (Class II elastics, sometimes upper 4s
extractions)
b. Low torque at the lower. most of the times
c. Standard torque /low torque inverted at the lower if the lower teeth
have a perfect alignment, no crowding, IMPA < 90
9. Open bites
a. Low torque upper & lower + tongue tammers
10. D-Gainer.
a. Low torque at the jaw (incisors) where the coil springs are going to be
placed.

Andrs Felipe Perdomo O.

Professor Department of Orthodontics. UCC Bogot-Colombia
Professor Department of Orthodontics. Cuenca University. Cuenca-Ecuador.
info@andresperdomoortodoncia.com