Orthodontic Wires: mechanical properties and clinical applicability

Marco Abdo GRAVINA, Alexandre Trindade Simões da MOTTA, Marco Antonio de Oliveira ALMEIDA, Cátia Cardoso Abdo QUINTÃO

Although there is a small number of alloys used for orthodontic wire production, many brands are shown, which dificults the choice for the wire that best its the situation and costs less. Marketing over the considered “superior” wires (shape memory and superelastic nickel-titanium) highlight their best results regarded to their mechanical properties. In order to choose the proper wire, it is important for the orthodontist to understand the material properties. Based on deinition and comparison of mechanical properties, through literature review, it was concluded that, for aligning and leveling phases, superelastic or thermoactivated nickel-titanium and multistranded wires should be the chooser ones. For intermediate treatment phase, beta-titanium wires should be elected. For inishing steps, conventional stainless steel wires would be a good option. It is still suggested that, though the new nickel-titanium wires have shown better results in laboratorial tests, they are similar to the multistranded ones clinically compared which are less expensive.

Keywords: Orthodontic wires. Mechanical properties. Superelasticity. Shape memory effect.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 01:09