Smaha Curved Ligating Instrument, 14 cm — Orthodontic — Ligating Instruments

The Smaha is built on a Mathieu-pattern body: a spring-opened, ratchet-locking handle worked with one hand, so the beaks clamp and stay clamped without sustained squeeze. What makes it a ligating instrument rather than a needle holder is the beak — narrow, and serrated along its full length rather than only at the tip, which gives a long consistent grip on an elastomeric module or ligature wire and stops it slipping as it is stretched over the bracket wings. This is the curved version: the bend in the beak carries the tips away from the handle axis, which is what gives access to posterior and lingual brackets where a straight beak forces an awkward wrist angle. 1769-21 is the straight equivalent for anterior work. The ratchet also lets the operator load a module, lock it, and carry it into the mouth without re-gripping.