Effect of Wire Size on Maxillary Arch Force/Couple Systems for a Simulated High Canine Malocclusion. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Major, Paul W.; Toogood, Roger W.; Badawi, Hisham M.; Carey, Jason P.; Seru, Surbhi
• Is Part Of: Journal of orthodontics. Volume 41:Number 4(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Elastic ligation -- NiTi wires -- orthodontic brackets -- passive ligation; Orthodontics -- Periodicals; 617.643005
• DOI: 10.1179/1465313314Y.0000000099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-3125

Abstract

Aims: To better understand the effects of copper nickel titanium (CuNiTi) archwire size on bracket-archwire mechanics through the analysis of force/couple distributions along the maxillary arch. The hypothesis is that wire size is linearly related to the forces and moments produced along the arch. Materials and methods: An Orthodontic Simulator was utilized to study a simplified high canine malocclusion. Force/couple distributions produced by passive and elastic ligation using two wire sizes (Damon 0·014 and 0·018 inch) measured with a sample size of 144. Results: The distribution and variation in force/couple loading around the arch is a complicated function of wire size. The use of a thicker wire increases the force/couple magnitudes regardless of ligation method. Owing to the non-linear material behaviour of CuNiTi, this increase is less than would occur based on linear theory as would apply for stainless steel wires. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that an increase in wire size does not result in a proportional increase of applied force/moment. This discrepancy is explained in terms of the non-linear properties of CuNiTi wires. This non-proportional force response in relation to increased wire size warrants careful consideration when selecting wires in a clinical setting.