INTRODUCTION: The orthodontic treatment plan must consider factors like dental crowding, dental alveolar protrusion, maxillary discrepancies and the facial profile change necessity. It must be considered that the normal characteristics changes in conformity with the ethnic origin of the patient. Then, searching for the individualization of treatment for each patient, in borderlines cases the orthodontic therapy can be done with or without extractions. AIM: To review the literature about the interproximal enamel reduction therapy as an orthodontic treatment alternative to extractions in this borderline patients and to exemplify the technic with a case report. METHODS: To execute the enamel reduction it was used the high-speed Carbide bur and Sof-Lex discs to polish the striped surfaces, followed by topic application of fluoride to increase enamel protection. CONCLUSION: Technic is indicated to solve discrepancies in the dental arch smaller than 8,5mm, to avoid extractions in patients with good facial profile. It's mandatory that the teeth to be striped must be large, triangular and with thick proximal enamel layers.
Air-rotor stripping; Interproximal enamel reduction; Borderline cases; Non extractions
