Center of resistance of anterior arch segment.

It is important to know the location of the center of resistance (CR) to control tooth movement. In this study, photoelastic techniques were used to determine the center of resistance. The photoelastic model included the anterior 4 maxillary teeth, which were interconnected firmly with 6 mm of space between lateral incisors and canines. Determination of the CR for the anterior arch segment was based on considerations of a wide variety of load conditions that generated the more uniform stresses in the supporting alveolar bone simulant. For the arch having the anterior 4 teeth connected, the CR was located within the mid-sagittal plane, 6-mm apical and 4-mm posterior to a line perpendicular to the occlusal plane from the labial alveolar crest of the central incisor.