Evaluation of frictional forces between orthodontic brackets and archwires

Jeong, Tae Jong; Choie, Mok Kyun

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to amount of the frictional forces with the brackets and wires, ligation methods, dry/wet, offsets, interbracket distances, velocity and to compare them each other by different conditions. This study tested 0.018" x 0.025" slot sized 8 types of orthodontic bracket systems and 0.016", 0.016" x 0.022" sized stainless steel, NiTi, Cu-NiTi orthodontic wires. One cuspid bracket were positioned on the slide glass and archwire was engaged into bracket and ligated with elastomeric modules. The values of frictional forces were measured with the Instron universal testing machine. The results were as follows; 1. Polycrystalline ceramic bracket had the highest mean frictional forces and followed and by ceramic reinforced plastic bracket, metal bracket, plastic bracket with metal slot, monocrystalline ceramic bracket, single bracket, self-ligating bracket, friction free bracket in descending order. The self-ligating bracket showed low frictional forces in the round wires and high frictional forces in the rectangular wires. 2. Stainless steel wires had the least frictional forces and followed by NiTi, Cu-NiTi wires in descending order. Round wires had lower frictional forces then that of rectangular wires. 3. The stainless steel ligation method had significantly greater mean frictional forces them the elastomeric module ligation method. 4. Artificial saliva statistically increased the frictional forces in stainless steel wire, NiTi wire and Cu-NiTi wire. 5. There was a statistically significant difference with offset change. 6. There was no statistically significant difference with interbracket distance in stainless steel wires but a significant difference in NiTi wires as the interbracket was decreased.