Watkin Orthodontic Appliances
In the early years of orthodontics, removable appliances (plates), as opposed to the more expensive and complex fixed appliances, were commonly used. One such appliance that fascinated Watkin and had potential for development was the Pin and Tube Appliance. The Pin and Tube Appliance was time consuming and, therefore, expensive to construct. It lacked flexibility and needed adjusting every two to three weeks. Trauma to the teeth could only be avoided by very careful handling. These shortcomings concerned Watkin so he devised an adaptation, not only addressing these problems, but also endowing his appliance with extra beneficial features. He replaced the rather rigid ‘pin’ with a ‘loop and tube’ attachment permitting three-dimensional control of the tooth and extending the periods between adjustments to six weeks and provided means for quick arch-wire removal, cleaning, adjustment and reinsertion. The implications for the patients were great as it meant that they needed fewer appointments and those they had were shorter.
In 1934, high tensile stainless steel became available giving the appliances increased efficiency and flexibility, enabling the need for clinical adjustment to be extended to eight week periods.
The Watkin Appliance eventually developed into two distinct types; the Loop and Tube Appliance and the Free-Sliding Arch.
The Free-Sliding Arch was essentially a loop and tube appliance at the front but the correcting wires extended backwards to a banded molar on each side of the mouth.
His appliances relied on bends and coils in the correcting wire so it was necessary to have specific pliers made for the purpose so local toolmakers, Elliots of Buckland Street Aigburth, Liverpool, produced the Watkin Pliers commercially. The Dental Manufacturing Company in London also sold Watkin Pliers.
As Watkin’s practice grew he took on a partner Mike Booth, then John Clifford who initially assisted at Watkin House. Then, in 1959, Clifford became Watkin’s partner and finally, in 1965, his successor. Clifford became a great advocate of Watkin’s work and published the paper ‘The Watkin Free-Sliding Arch an introduction in The Dental Practitioner’ 1965 and this substantially raised the profile of this device. Watkin’s Role in Orthodontic Education In 1935, Watkin became a Lecturer in Orthodontics at the Turner Dental School in Manchester and in 1937 in the Liverpool Dental Hospital.
Read more about this topic: Harold Gladstone Watkin