What is Roth Brackets

Orthodontic brackets are essential components in fixed appliance therapy, used to align teeth by holding archwires. The main differences lie in their "prescriptions" – built-in values for torque (third-order rotation), tip (angulation), and other features.

"Roth" refers to the Roth prescription, a popular pre-adjusted edgewise bracket system developed by orthodontist Dr. Ronald Roth in the 1970s. It's one of the two main bracket prescriptions in modern orthodontics (the other being MBT, developed later). These brackets come pre-angled with built-in tip, torque, and rotation values to reduce the need for wire bending during treatment.

Key features of Roth brackets:

• Often available in different slot sizes (e.g., 0.018" or 0.022").
• Made from metal (stainless steel), ceramic, or sapphire for aesthetics.
• Used in fixed braces systems, with variations like mini Roth for lower profile or self-ligating versions.
• Compared to MBT, Roth typically has slightly higher torque in upper incisors and is preferred by some orthodontists for certain bite corrections.

Key Notes on Roth Torque and Rotation

• Torque is generally higher in the upper anteriors (+12°/+8°) than Andrews' original (to prevent under-torqued incisors) and provides mild negative torque in upper canines (–2°) for better posterior occlusion.
• Tip is increased in canines and some posteriors for better root parallelism and anchorage control.
• Rotation offsets help counteract common rotations (e.g., mesial-in on upper canines, distal-in on premolars/molars).
• Roth was designed as a “one-prescription-fits-most” system (extraction or non-extraction) with built-in overcorrection, unlike later systems like MBT (which has higher upper incisor torque +17°/+10°, lower canine torque –7°, and generally less tip).