Luca Lombardo1, Angela Arreghini2, Elena Bratti3, Francesco Mollica4, Giorgio Spedicato5, Mattia Merlin4, Annalisa Fortini6, Giuseppe Siciliani7. 1. a Adjunct Professor, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 2. b Research Assistant, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 3. c Resident, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 4. d Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 5. e Chartered Statistician, Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society, Cattolica University, Milano, Italy. 6. f PhD student, Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 7. g Professor and Chairman, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree to which the height, width, and cross-section of rectangular and square orthodontic archwires affect the play between the archwires and the bracket slot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The stated measurements (height and width) of 43 archwires from six different manufacturers were compared with real values obtained using a digital gauge. The curvature (radius) of the edge bevels was also measured to calculate the play within the slot, and this measurement was compared with the ideal value. RESULTS: The real height and width of the archwires differed from those stated by the manufacturers, falling within the range -6.47% and +5.10%. The curvature of each bevel on each archwire cross-section was shown to differ, and consequently increased the real play between the archwire and slot with respect to the ideal to different degrees. CONCLUSIONS: The archwire-slot play was greater than the ideal for each archwire considered, inevitably leading to a loss of information within the system.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree to which the height, width, and cross-section of rectangular and square orthodontic archwires affect the play between the archwires and the bracket slot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The stated measurements (height and width) of 43 archwires from six different manufacturers were compared with real values obtained using a digital gauge. The curvature (radius) of the edge bevels was also measured to calculate the play within the slot, and this measurement was compared with the ideal value. RESULTS: The real height and width of the archwires differed from those stated by the manufacturers, falling within the range -6.47% and +5.10%. The curvature of each bevel on each archwire cross-section was shown to differ, and consequently increased the real play between the archwire and slot with respect to the ideal to different degrees. CONCLUSIONS: The archwire-slot play was greater than the ideal for each archwire considered, inevitably leading to a loss of information within the system.