Which instrument would be used to place a ligature around a tooth?

• A. Ligature tucker
• B. Band seater
• C. Mathieu pliers
• D. Weingart pliers

Answer: (A)

The key idea is using an instrument designed to handle and position a ligature precisely around a tooth. The ligature tucker is built with a slender, curved beak that can slip the ligature into place, loop it around the tooth, and tuck the ends securely without distorting the wire or injuring surrounding tissues. This makes it the most effective tool for placing a ligature around a tooth, especially in tight spaces near the bracket or gum margin.

Other instruments have different primary roles: a band seater is used to seat metal bands on molars, not to place ligatures; and pliers like Mathieu or Weingart are versatile for bending or adjusting wires and ligatures during various orthodontic steps, but they don’t deliver the same simple, controlled placement around a tooth that the ligature tucker provides.