A New Method of Making Kobayashi Ties

The Kobayashi tie is commonly used for attaching up-and-down elastics during the settling stage of treatment. We have devised a new method of forming the loop for a Kobayashi tie by twisting the ligature wire rather than spot-welding the ends together, as is done with the preformed commercial version.

Wrap a length of .010" stainless steel ligature wire around an explorer¹ (A). Give the wire two or three twists, so that a small, circular loop is formed when the wire is removed from the explorer (B). Ligate the Kobayashi tie to the bracket with the loop on the distogingival or mesiogingival side as required (C). Up-and-down elastics can then be engaged for settling the occlusion (D).