Palatal buttonresearched

Quick facts

Field	Value
ID	OA-0168
Type	component
Category	component
Fixed/removable	fixed (bonded)
Primary function	auxiliary attachment for palatal/lingual traction forces
Uses TADs	no

Overview

A palatal button is a small metal button or bracket bonded to the palatal surface of a tooth (most often the upper incisors, canines, or premolars) to provide an attachment point for forces that cannot be efficiently applied from the labial surface. Common uses include: applying palatal traction to rotate impacted canines, using elastic chains to correct palatal crossbite, pulling palatally displaced teeth labially, and providing a lingual attachment for sectional wire mechanics. The button is etched, bonded, and has a wire tie-wing or hook for elastic/chain attachment.

Clinical & technical

Mechanism of action

Force vectors from palatal or lingual elastics, chains, or wires are connected to the button and pull the tooth in the desired direction. For palatally impacted canines: a gold chain is bonded to the exposed canine at surgery; the chain attaches to the palatal button or directly to the main archwire via elastic, pulling the canine along its eruption path. For crossbite correction: elastic from palatal button to the labial archwire rotates the tooth labially.

Indications & case selection

Palatally impacted canines; palatal crossbite on individual teeth; rotational correction requiring a palatal attachment; any case where a labial-only attachment is insufficient for the planned tooth movement.

Contraindications & limitations

Bonding to palatal surfaces requires dry-field maintenance; patient may feel the button with the tongue; button can debond from palatal enamel (palatal surface bond strength is less predictable than labial); limited force directions available.

Design & fabrication

Components & materials

• Small metal button (SS) or bracket with tie-wings
• Bonded with composite resin to palatal enamel
• Hook or tie-wing for elastic/chain attachment
• Available in various heights (0.5–2 mm)

Lab fabrication notes

Chairside placement only — no lab fabrication. Buttons are manufactured by orthodontic suppliers (American Orthodontics, Ormco) and bonded directly.

Common variants & modifications

• Lingual button — on lower teeth lingual surface
• Gold chain — bonded to impacted tooth (different but related

application)

• Lingual bracket — full bracket on lingual surface for more

complex mechanics

Used in

Appliances that incorporate this component. ★ = fabricated by Clear Fusion Lab.

• ★ Quad Helix — Quad Helix (palatal

attachment point)

• ★ Transpalatal arch — Transpalatal

arch

• TAD-based distal jet —

TAD-based anterior intrusion appliance

• TAD-based posterior intrusion appliance —

TAD-based posterior intrusion appliance

• TAD-based anterior intrusion appliance —

TAD-based anterior intrusion appliance

• TAD-assisted molar uprighting appliance —

TAD-assisted molar uprighting appliance

• Anterior segment retraction with TADs — Anterior

segment retraction with TADs

Common variants & modifications

• Palatal button with hook: hook added for elastic attachment;

used in crossbite or rotation correction

• Palatal button with lingual sheath: tube instead of button for

wire engagement

• Bonded palatal button: directly bonded to lingual tooth surface;

no band required

• Banded palatal button: on a band; more retentive for high-force

applications

• Button horizontal vs. vertical slot: orientation selected based

on direction of elastic pull

Also known as

• palatal button (commonname)_
• lingual button (lower variant)
• palatal attachment (descriptor)

Sources

• [Orthodontic Buttons and Attachments — Speaks

Orthodontics](https://speaksorthodontics.com/the-role-of-attachments-and-buttons-in-aligners-what-they-are-and-why-theyre-needed/)

Research log

• 2026-06-09 — researched palatal button function, impacted canine

traction, crossbite correction applications.