Korean J Orthod.  1992 Dec;22(4):823-836.

An experimental study on changes of orthodontic wires after electropolishing

• Lee JC
• Kim JC

Abstract

Guiding a tooth along an arch wire results in a counteracting frictional force among arch wires, bracket and ligature. This frictional forces should be eliminated or minimized when orthodontic tooth movement is being planned. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of width, cross-sectional forms and surface morphologies of stainless steel wire and Elgiloy(R)wire after electropolising. Experimental variables included in this experiment were arch wire materials, current, electrolyte temperature and polishing time. Wire widths were measured by micrometer and cross-sectional forms and surface morphologies were examined with optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. The mean and standard deviation of widths of stainless steel wire and Elgiloy(R) wire varying polishing time with condition of 249A/dm2 and 20degreesC, 249A/dm2 and 25degreesC, 332A/dm2 and 20degreesC and 332A/dm2 and 25degreesC were obtained. 2. With increasing polishing time, the widths of stainless steel wire and Elgiloy(R) wire became decreased proportionally. 3. The changes of widths of stainless steel wire and Elgiloy(R) wire were statistically insignificant between 20degreesC group and 25degreesC group. but significant between 249A/dm2 group and 332A/dm2 group. 4. The cross-sectional forms of wire after electropolishing were not changed in stainless steel wire, and while it were changed to rounded corners in Elgiloy(R) wire. 5. The surface morphologies of wire after electropolishing were scratch-absent and more smoothened both in stainless steel wire and Flgiloy(R) wire.

MeSH Terms

Friction
Ligation
Orthodontic Wires*
Stainless Steel
Tooth
Tooth Movement
Stainless Steel