Comparative assessment of frictional forces between differently designed esthetic brackets during simulated canine retraction.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate force loss due to friction (FR) with an emphasis on esthetic brackets and their design differences during simulated canine retraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tested brackets were round and sharp-cornered conventional-ligating brackets and round-cornered self-ligating brackets. The tested archwires were stainless steel (0.018â€¯× 0.025″ and 0.019â€¯× 0.025″, and 0.018″) archwires. A total of 90 bracket-archwire combinations in 9 equally-sized groups (n = 10) were analyzed. Canine retraction was experimentally simulated in a biomechanical set-up utilizing the custom-made orthodontic measurement and simulation system (OMSS) using a NiTi coil spring that delivered a constant force of 1 N. The simulated retraction path was up to 4 mm. FR was compared among groups using the Welch t­test. Significance level (α) was set to 0.05. RESULTS: The round-cornered conventional-ligating bracket exhibited the least FR (28.6 ± 5.4%), while there were no significant differences in FR between the round-cornered conventional-ligating bracket and the round-cornered self-ligating bracket with 0.018″ stainless steel wires. However, the round-cornered self-ligating bracket exhibited the least FR (34.9 ± 5.1% and 39.3 ± 4.6%) with 0.018â€¯× 0.025″ and 0.019â€¯× 0.025″ stainless steel archwires, respectively. The sharp-cornered conventional-ligating bracket showed the highest FR of 72.4 ± 3.0% among the bracket systems tested in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The round-cornered conventional-ligating bracket showed less FR when compared to sharp-cornered conventional-ligating bracket. Conversely, the round-cornered conventional-ligating bracket exhibited greater FR when compared to the round-cornered self-ligating bracket, with an exception with respect to the 0.018″ wire. In general, FR increased with increased wire dimension.

Comparison of static friction and surface topography of low friction and conventional TMA orthodontic arch wires: An in-vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Arch wire surface characteristics, especially surface roughness and topography, influence the coefficient of friction during sliding. The clinician should be familiar with the properties of orthodontic appliances and materials that could result in high friction to maximize the efficiency of treatment. This study aimed to compare the static friction of orthodontic arch wire materials, including a newly introduced low-friction TMA, conventional TMA, and stainless steel arch wires, using an Instron universal testing machine and to evaluate their surface topographical features using a noncontact optical profilometer. METHODS: A total of 30 arch wire specimens were used, including 10 low-friction TMA (TMA-Low), 10 conventional TMA (TMA-C), and 10 stainless steel (SS), (Ormco, Orange, CA, USA) measuring 0.016 × 0.022 in. The static frictional force of each arch wire material was measured using the universal Instron machine. The surface topography was evaluated using a noncontact profilometer machine. RESULTS: The static frictional resistance forces were highest in the TMA-C alloy group, and the value was statistically significant in comparison to the SS arch wire but not to the TMA-Low arch wire. The mean value of the static friction of the TMA-Low group was intermediate between the TMA-C and SS arch wires. However, this difference was statistically insignificant compared to the other two alloys. A surface roughness evaluation using a profilometer machine revealed that the highest mean of all three roughness parameters was found in the TMA-C group, followed by the TMA-Low and SS arch wires in descending order. CONCLUSION: The static friction resistance forces and surface roughness values of the TMA-Low arch wire are comparable to those of TMA-C but are still considered inferior to those of the SS arch wire.

Prolonged water immersion alters resistance to sliding of aesthetic orthodontic coated wires.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the resistance to sliding of aesthetic orthodontic coated wires after prolonged water immersion for up to 4 weeks. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: An in vitro study of commercially available orthodontic appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aesthetic coated stainless-steel wires (Parylene-coated, epoxy-coated and Teflon-coated) (0.019" × 0.025") and an uncoated control were immersed in distilled-deionized water for zero, two or four weeks at 37°C and then were subjected to resistance-to-sliding tests through a three-bracket system of sapphire ceramic brackets (0.022" × 0.028" slot) and clear-coloured elastic ligatures at a contact angle of 0° or 3°. Maximal and average resistance to sliding was analysed by a three-way analysis of variance, two general linear models and a post hoc Tukey's honest significant difference test. RESULTS: Water immersion time, contact angle, wire group and their interactions had statistically significant effects on the resistance to sliding of tested orthodontic wires. Various coated wires had distinct timely changes in the maximal and average resistance to sliding after water immersion for 2 to 4 weeks. When compared to the uncoated control in most of the experimental conditions, epoxy-coated wires had lower or non-significant differences in resistance to sliding, while Parylene-coated wire had higher resistances. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged water immersion for weeks alters the resistance to sliding of aesthetic orthodontic wires coated with Parylene, epoxy or Teflon. Based on their resistance to sliding, different designs in orthodontic biomechanics should be considered for the different aesthetic orthodontic coated wires.

In vitro evaluation of the influence of velocity on sliding resistance of stainless steel arch wires in a self-ligating orthodontic bracket.

INTRODUCTION: Of the variables used by in vitro studies of resistance to sliding (RS) in orthodontics, sliding velocity (SV) of the wire is often the one farthest from its clinical counterpart. We investigated whether velocity influences the RS at values approximating the orthodontic movement. METHODS: A SS self-ligating bracket with a NiTi clip was fixed onto a custom-made model. Different shaped orthodontic SS wires of four sizes and two types (round, 0.020″ and 0.022″; rectangular, 0.016″×0.022″ and 0.017″×0.025″) were tested using an Instron® testing machine. Wires were pulled at four velocities (1×10-2  mm/s, 1×10-3  mm/s, 1×10-4  mm/s, 1×10-5  mm/s). Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate the normal distribution of the data; two-way ANOVA was performed to compare means in the RS with wire characteristics and SV. Significance level was set at P<.05. RESULTS: RS was higher for rectangular wires, and for those with larger diameters. Lower SV was associated with lower RS, with wire type and size having an interaction effect. The RS relatively to SV can be represented as: RS ∝ α[ln(SV)]+ß, where α and ß are constants. CONCLUSIONS: At very low SV and low normal forces, SV influences the RS of SS archwires in orthodontic brackets, and the proportionality is logarithmic. Although respecting these parameters in vitro is challenging, quantitative evaluations of RS should be carried out at clinically relevant velocities if aiming at translational application in the clinical scenario.

Zinc-oxide nanocoating for improvement of the antibacterial and frictional behavior of nickel-titanium alloy.

AIM: To fabricate a friction-reducing and antibacterial coating with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on nickel-titanium (NiTi) wire. MATERIALS & METHODS: NiTi orthodontic wires were coated with ZnO nanoparticles using the chemical deposition method. Characteristics of the coating as well as the physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties of the wires were investigated. RESULTS: A stable and well-adhered ZnO coating on the NiTi wires was obtained. The hardness and elastic modulus of the ZnO nanocoating were 2.3 ± 0.2 and 61.0 ± 3.6 GPa, respectively. The coated wires presented up to 21% reduction in the frictional forces and antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. ZnO nanocoating significantly improved the surface quality of NiTi wires. The modulus of elasticity, unloading forces and austenite finish temperature were not significantly different after coating. CONCLUSION: This unique coating could be implemented into practice for safer and faster treatment to the benefit of both patient and clinician.

Forças, momentos e coeficiente de atrito em teste de três pontos e em teste de resistência ao deslizamento com braquetes autoligáveis e fios 0.014" utilizando um novo dispositivo / Forces, moments and coefficient of friction in three-bracket bending test and in resistance to sliding test with self-ligating brackets and wires 0.014'' using a new device

O objetivo principal do estudo é comparar o teste em 3 pontos com braquetes com o teste de resistência ao deslizamento utilizando um novo dispositivo que realiza a mensuração simultânea do coeficiente de atrito, das forças e dos momentos nos braquetes de ancoragem e da força de desativação no braquete desalinhado, exercidos por fios ortodônticos. Os objetivos secundários foram desenvolver o dispositivo e comparar, no teste em 3 pontos: (i) a influência, nas grandezas e no coeficiente de atrito cinético, da variação da simetria nas distâncias inter-braquetes, do tipo de braquete de ancoragem (canino ou 2º pré-molar), do deslocamento (3 ou 5mm) do braquete central, do sentido do desalinhamento (vestibular ou lingual) do braquete central e da marca de fio-braquete; (ii) as 3 formas de cálculo do coeficiente de atrito cinético; (iii) os 10 ciclos, para vestibular ou lingual, para verificar se eles são semelhantes ou não entre si. Foram utilizados braquetes autoligáveis (dentes 13, 14 e 15) e fios 0.014'' NiTi e CuNiTi das marcas Aditek e Ormco. O teste de resistência ao deslizamento foi realizado no desalinhamento lingual, nos dois deslocamentos e na configuração simétrica. O teste em 3 pontos com braquetes foi realizado no desalinhamento lingual e vestibular, nos dois deslocamentos e na configuração simétrica e assimétrica. Por meio da ANOVA, foram comparados, entre os dois tipos de teste: (A) as grandezas e o coeficiente de atrito e (B) o coeficiente de atrito gerado apenas no braquete de 2º pré-molar. Utilizando-se do mesmo teste estatístico foram comparados, no teste em 3 pontos com braquetes: (A) na configuração...

The main objective of the study is to compare the three-bracket bending test with the resistance to sliding test using a new device that performs simultaneous measurement of coefficient of friction, the forces and moments on the anchor brackets and deactivation force in misaligned bracket, exercised by orthodontic wires. Secondary objectives were to develop the device and compare, in the three-bracket bending test: (i) the influence, on the physical quantities and on the kinetic friction coefficient, of the variation of the symmetry in the inter-bracket distance, of the type of anchor bracket (canine or 2nd premolar), of displacement (3 or 5mm) and misalignment (buccal or lingual) of the central bracket, and of the wire and bracket brand; (ii) the three ways to calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction; (iii) the 10 cycles, for buccal or lingual, to see if they are similar or not. Self-ligating brackets were used (teeth 13, 14 and 15) and wires 0.014 '' NiTi and CuNiTi of Aditek and Ormco brands. The resistance to sliding test was conducted on the lingual misalignment, on both displacements and on symmetrical configuration. The three-bracket bending test was held at the lingual and vestibular misalignment, at both displacements and at the symmetrical and asymmetrical configuration. Through ANOVA, were compared, between the two types of tests: (A) the quantities and the coefficient of friction and (B) the coefficient of friction generated only in the second premolar bracket. Using the same statistical test were compared, in three-bracket bending test: (A) in symmetrical configuration, the quantities and the coefficient of friction arising from the variation in the wire and bracket brands, displacement, misalignment and the type of bracket; (B) the quantities...