1. Preparation

* Polish the nail
For gluing on the brace the nail must have as even and smooth a surface as possible.
If needed, it can be smoothed or slightly roughened with a cutter or a soft nail file. Loose parts of the nail must be removed.

 

* Clean the nail
Before gluing on the brace the nail must be thoroughly cleaned and degreased. For this purpose an alcohol swab or, alternatively, a swab drenched with isopropyl alcohol can be used. After cleaning the nail should be allowed to dry (about 15 seconds).

 

Adjust the brace

* Select the proper size

! The size should be selected in such a way that the brace can be stuck as far as possible towards the rum on the ingrown side of the nail.

 

* The brace is generally positioned on the side that is more heavily ingrown.

In order for the brace to lie completely flat on the body of the nail it must be bent with the fingers to accord with the curvature of the nail.

! Bend the brace a little more than the body of the nail is curved and it will then better fit onto the nail. This is particularly important on the ends of the brace.

 

Clean the brace

The brace must likewise be degreased with an alcohol swab and must then be allowed to dry (about 15 seconds).

 

2. Gluing on the brace

Apply the glue:

! The glue is only applied to the brace and never to the nail.
! If too much glue is applied the brace will not stick to the nail.
Wipe off both sides of the brush on the bottle rim.
Apply a fine coat of the glue on the whole undersurface of the brace.

 

Apply the brace:

Position the brace on the side of the nail that is more heavily ingrown.
Hold the brace by the wire handle and place it gently on the nail.

 

Press the gluing surfaces of the brace on the nail for about 15 seconds with your fingers. In doing so, push the brace with its edges as far as possible down in the direction of the nail fold so that the midsection of the brace attaches to the nail.
Then press especially on the edge areas of the brace.

Take care that the brace is not moved after it has once been applied.

Then the brace can be pressed down with the tension tool especially in the area of the edge.
Wait two minutes before activating so that the glue hardens.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Activate the brace
Turn the loop
Insert the tension tool into the wire loop.
Turn the tension tool at least one and at most two rotations until the desired tension is attained. While turning pull the tension tool slightly upwards.
Remove the tension tool.

If the activation wire is tightened by more than two rotations there is a danger that it will rip off and the brace will be unusable

 

Cut off the remainder of the wire

Cut the wire loop off with the cutting pliers. To do this, place the cutting pliers flat on the brace and cut off the wire loop with a cut perpendicular to the wire loop.

Smooth out the ends of the wire with a nail file.

Remove the residue dust from the brace by blowing on it by using a soft brush

 

4. Cover up the wire connection

To seal the podofix brace use the spatula to apply a drop of PediGel sealant and mould it into the indentation of the podofix brace.
Turn the UV microlamp on by turning the front of the torch clockwise and harden the PediGel by beaming the UV lamp on it for 20 seconds. Hold the microlamp at the smallest possible distance (maximum 5 mm) away from the sealing point.
Wipe the brace off after the PediGel hardens with the alcohol swab.

If any wire remainder still sticks out of the sealing you can cover them up with an additional coat of PediGel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Removing The Podofix Brace

To remove it, the brace is loosened from the edges with the cutting pliers.
With a file or a cutter glue residues can be removed.