Comments on: Jewelry Tools From the Orthodontist!

By: Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 06:55:29 +0000

If you live near A Walmart they have a set of 12 dental picks for around $16 That’s 24 tips — I found them after reading this post and just had to share ????

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:26:46 +0000

Thank you!!! I can’t wait for my son’s next ortho visit!!

By: rose kotula

rose kotula — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:29:01 +0000

Thanks for the great tip. Any chance you can tell me where we can get them?

By: Autumn

Autumn — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 01:47:45 +0000

Oh, that’s funny! I ran into a woman who made dentures and other oral metal-based items last year. Our conversation started out with the stainless steel wire I used to make the pendant I was wearing. Her wire was pre-cut, but much too hard for my use. But her tools….ooooohhhh! I still look at EBay for dental burr cups and pliers. Her pliers were far outside my budget, but well worth it. I’m glad you could get some for free. Maybe I’ll call the local orthodontist tomorrow.

By: Diana S.

Diana S. — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 22:53:54 +0000

I have been looking far and wide for some kind of cutter’s. Ebay has distalend cutters but the peole selling them said they do not flatten the wire. I finally called Widget Supply and they have cuttere #BLU42 for $10.99. The person helping me said they cut and leave a clean flat end on the wire.
My question is the wire probably will only work for pearls and small hole beads, correct? I tried the crimping pliers and they flatten wire nicely but only my pearls that barely fit through the 22g wire will stay on the wire.

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:08:05 +0000

Thank you so much for these wonderful tips! My son is too young for braces and I just can’t wait that long for the distal end cutters……I may just have to either order them if not too expensive or just start stopping in to local offices!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:48:38 +0000

I thought this was so funny to come upon this article. I am an orthodontic assistant and I was trained by a very skilled, patient and methodical orthodontist. Back when I started 20 yrs ago, wires were mostly stainless and we had to make all kinds of bends, helix and offsets to move the teeth. Now the wires are all kinds of crazy metals that don’t require much work 🙁 I gained a love of wire jewelry making because of my first orthodntist assistant job. I would love to get my hands on some of those old tools!!!

By: whimsy supply

whimsy supply — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:34:03 +0000

Laura C. Thank you for sharing widget works info! My dentist let me take her tools catalogue home to peruse but it was overwhelming in scope, choices, volume of info.

By: Pat Smith

Pat Smith — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:50:18 +0000

The site that Laura mentions is WidgetSupply.com I just took a look and they have just about everything at very good prices.

By: Laura C

Laura C — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:21:01 +0000

Being self taught I look at everything I can come across about various techniques . I was cruising the web hoping to find something new and saw a link with a header that said

“Master the Intricacies of Wirework Using the Right Tools”

Opened the link and it’s a picture of a dentist mugging for the camera with a teenage boy in the chair grimacing.

There’s an online store that I believe is called Widget Works that sells every hand tool under the sun including dental and medical

By: Kim Ryan

Kim Ryan — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:10:18 +0000

Lisa – Thanks for the further tip! Must admit I don’t use crimping pliers but will give it a try if I get the chance 🙂

By: Lisa Yang

Lisa Yang — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:41:48 +0000

Kim – Since I wrote this, I found that I can also make a nice paddle end using my crimp tool. The very end of the tool is a ‘flattener’ and it works to make paddle ends on wire up to 22g. Try that and let me know how it works!

By: Bev Carlson

Bev Carlson — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:41:58 +0000

Wow what a great idea. My kids are beyond the braces stage but I did pick up a few free tools from my dentist. Mostly pics and burnishers. He was more than pleased to give me his old tools. We just need to look around to find some free or less expensive items. Remember Fireline in the fishing supply stores too.

By: Kim Ryan

Kim Ryan — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:58:16 +0000

What a great idea! I love the distal end cutter! I use a lot of silver plated wire in my jewellery and also love this paddled end look but it’s always a problem trying to stop the copper showing through! What’s even better is an old friend of mine is an orthodontist and will be starting work on my sons teeth in a few weeks and so will definately be cheekily seeing if he has an old box of tools!! Many thanks! Love the simplicity of your pearl earrings
Kim 🙂

By: Lisa Yang

Lisa Yang — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:16:25 +0000

Thanks for your comments Rena and Jane. I never thought about braces being a form of wire work until my kids got them. Now, I always tease them and ask if they’d like me to tighten anything for them (or add some gem dangles!). I think we could start quite a trend…

By: jane

jane — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:21:00 +0000

I guess inspiration is indeed everywhere. Thanks for sharing!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:47:21 +0000

Hi Lisa!

What a cool find – and especially getting these tools for free. I guess braces are just a different form of wirework! 🙂

I like how the distal end cutter automatically makes a paddle end – that could be a fantastic timesaver if you were making several of an item (such as a dozen pairs of those earrings, or bead dangles for a cha-cha bracelet).

It makes sense that the orthodontist’s wire cutter would keep the snipped-off wire end from flying around – it’s one thing to have wire pieces flying around our living room when we snip, but inside a customer’s mouth it would definitely not be a good idea! 🙂

Thanks so much for sharing this great tool resource – and I hope you have some good finds at the dentist’s office too!