Clear thinking about interproximal stripping

teeth by removing enamel in the process known as interproximal stripping is a way orthodontists can gain a modest amount of space in their treatment of crowding. They have used this therapeutic procedure since the Eighties in the mandibular incisor region to correct relapse or to prevent it. But with the more recent near universal use of bonding to place brackets on teeth and thus eliminate full mouth banding, it has become possible to obtain space in a similar way in posterior sectors of the arch with the Air Rotor Stripping (A.R.S.) technique that Sheridan2 described in1985. Today interproximal stripping has become a viable alternative to the extraction of permanent teeth or arch expansion in cases of moderate 4 to 8 mm crowding, which makes it an attractive choice in the treatment of adults. But, because it is an irreversible act, orthodontists should undertake a careful analysis before deciding to use it. This article will not only outline the special materials required for the removal of interproximal enamel but review the parameters that govern interproximal stripping according to the different protocols proposed by a variety of authors. Clear thinking about interproximal stripping