There are 2 ways to create the force (aka the divot):

Essix Divoter or
3 Cosmetic Corrector Tooth-Moving thermopliers.

The Divoter (right) was the original instrument designed to place the divot (bump) into plastic.

The divoter is only used with Essix Type A plastic.
It can not be used with the C+ plastic.
The divoter is no longer available.

Cosmetic Corrector Thermopliers

The Hilliard Thermopliers move teeth without distorting adjacent plastic.

Tooth movement requires force and space. The thermopliers for tooth movement provide force to move teeth by placing a bump direclty into an appliance. It is an improvement over the divots and windows technique for tooth movement. There are currently three tooth moving pliers: the Mandibular thermoplier, Maxillary thermoplier, & MicroRamp thermoplier.

Maxillary tooth-moving thermopliers. It takes more pressure to move a maxillary tooth than to move a mandibular tooth, thus the tip of this thermoplier is larger than the Mandibular Thermoplier's.

Mandibular Tooth-moving Thermopliers. The mandibular teeth require a smaller tip to realize all types of movement.

Micro-ramp Tooth-moving Thermopliers. The narrow tip allows for use close to the gingiva. Used to rotate, tip and torque teeth.

Left: Mandibular Tooth-Moving Thermoplier Item# ODG328

Right: Maxillary Tooth-Moving Thermoplier Item# ODG327

Micro-Ramp Thermoplier Item# ODG330

Essix Embrace® Plastic

Essix C+® Plastic