An increasing awareness of the benefits of orthodontic treatment, plus advances in both the sophistication and capability of fixed orthodonctic appliances have stimulated interest from both dentists and patients. Modern materials offer improved physical characteristics and the availability of aesthetic appliances has resulted in an increase in the number of patients requesting treatment. This text provides the newcomer to orthodontics with an understanding of the basic principles. It includes mechanisms appropriate for moving teeth with fixed appliances. The emphasis of the text is on simplicity and clarity.