Context The tooth alignment and leveling constitute the preliminary clinical phase of any orthodontic procedure with fixed appliances. It has been accepted in orthodontics the principle that light and continuous forces would be desirable for physiologic and controlled tooth movement. For this purpose, it has been suggested that nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires which offer a force-bending curve with a defined baseline and a larger activation range should be used Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the force versus deflection properties of different brands of NiTi wires available in market. Settings And Design Null hypothesis. There is no difference in force-deflection properties between different brands of same dimension NiTi archwires available in market. A cross-sectional study design was planned. Subjects And Methods Different companies were identified producing their own version or marketing NiTi archwires of the following sizes: 0.016 inch round and 0.016 × 0.022 inch rectangular were selected because all companies produced or marketed these particular sizes, and in addition, these were selected because these wire sizes are commonly used clinically. The three-point bend test was utilized to test the various wires in accordance with the ISO 15841 standard for orthodontic wires with the exception that the bottom support span was 16 mm rather than 10 mm due to fixture limitations. Statistical Analysis Used Data obtained from different brands of wires available in the Indian market Ormco, American Orthodontics, Ortho Organizers, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics 3M and MO which are manufactured in U.S.A, While as Natural, Orthomatix, JJ Orthodontics, Koden, Gdc, Rabbit force, and Optima are manufactered in china. and size 0.016 inch round wire and 0.16x0.022 inch rectangular wires were compared using ANOVA test. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 2.1. Results In this study, the data show that minimum force during activation of 0.016 inch round wire at 1 mm was 95 ± 10 g whereas maximum was 165 ± 10 g with a difference of 70 ± 20 g. Whereas at 3 mm activation, minimum force generated was 150 ± 10 g and maximum was 225 ± 10 g with a difference of 75 ± 20 g. In 0.016 × 0.022 inch rectangular wire, minimum activation force at 1 mm deflection was 210 ± 10, whereas maximum was 340 ± 10 with a difference of 130 ± 20 g. For deactivation, the minimum force for 0.016 wire at 1 mm deflection was 40 ± 10, whereas maximum force was 125 ± 10 with a difference of 85 ± 20 g, and for the 0.016 × 0.022 wire, the minimum load at 1 mm deflection was 150 ± 10 g, whereas the maximum was 295 ± 10 g with a difference of 145 ± 20 g. The deactivation force in majority of brands (8) at 1 mm deflection was <80 g whereas at 3 mm, majority brands have force levels >150–195 g. The deactivation force at 3 mm deflection in five brands was between 235 and 335 and five other brands between 335 and 445 whereas at 1 mm, deflection majority of brands was between 170 and 200 g. Conclusion From this data, a comparative evaluation shows that there is a huge difference in force-deflection properties of same dimension wire from different brands, which means that its making the orthodontic treatment more indeterminate; some wires have shown less and some have shown more force. Wires of the same materials, dimensions, but from different manufacturers do not always have the same mechanical properties. There are significant differences in the activation and deactivation forces among the different manufacturers of NiTi archwires. Improvements should be made in the standardization of the manufacturing testing process of NiTi archwires to provide orthodontists with NiTi archwires that have consistent mechanical properties despite the manufacturing brand that produces them.

Editorial

Recently, with the help of TADs (temporary anchorage devices), substantial 2nd molar protraction has become possible in case of missing posterior teeth. Total 260 cases of U-6 (Upper 1st molar missing), L-6 (Lower 1st molar missing) and L-E (Lower E extraction with the 2nd molar missing, E: deciduous 2nd molar) were finished. After 2nd molar protraction, even a horizontally-impacted 3rd molar can be uprighted. This treatment will become very good treatment modality, replacing implants and bridges in cases of missing posterior teeth.

Purpose The effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with light-emitting diode (LED) delivery (Biolux OrthoPulse® device) were tested for no differences from sham-controlled conventional orthodontics in maxillary anterior alignment treatment efficiency and maxillary central incisor root resorption after 6 months of treatment. Materials And Methods Two prospective clinical trial samples were matched for pretreatment irregularity index with (n = 14) and without (n = 12) photobiomodulation therapy (850 nm wavelength, 0.065 J/cm2, 5 min per-arch-per-day) and examined every 2 weeks for reduction of irregularity index to <1 mm. The sham control sample was provided with LED devices that did not deliver infrared light. Standardized periapical radiographs of maxillary central incisors were compared at initial and 6 months of treatment. Results Photobiomodulation resolved maxillary anterior crowding with 35.2% greater efficiency (41.0 vs. 63.3 days, P = 0.028) at nearly double the tooth movement rate-per-week (1.02 vs. 62 mm/week, P = 0.045). Mean maxillary central incisor root lengths were significantly shorter at the 6-month treatment interval after LLLT (19.63 vs. 20.85 mm, P = 0.021). Conclusions LED photobiomodulation therapy at 850 nm wavelength resulted in 1.7X more rapid maxillary anterior alignment.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transmucosal administration of thyroxine on the tooth movement and osteoclastic activity in Beagle dogs. Materials And Methods Eight Beagles were randomly divided into control group (n = 4) and thyroxine group (4-week group, n = 2 and 8-week group, n = 2). Buttons were bonded on the labial surfaces of the second premolar and anchorage teeth. Nickel-titanium closed-coil springs were connected. In the thyroxine group, thyroxine tablets were bonded to the hooks attached to the second premolar. Results The mean rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in the thyroxine group was slightly higher than that in the control group. Microscopic evaluation showed that the number of osteoclasts in the thyroxine group significantly increased. Conclusion The protocol for transmucosal administration of thyroxine could not significantly accelerate OTM. An increase in the number of osteoclasts was observed through microscopic evaluation during the 4th week.

Introduction Microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) has recently been offered to adult patients for correcting maxillary transverse deficiency. However, there is limited information in the literature on the success of this appliance and its skeletal and dental effects on skeletally matured patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate skeletal, dentoalveolar, and periodontal response to MARPE appliance using cone-beam computed tomography in a skeletally matured patient as assessed by the cervical vertebral maturation method. Materials And Methods Eight consecutively treated patients (2 females, 6 males; mean age of 21.9 ± 1.5 years) treated with a maxillary skeletal expander were included in the study. Measurements were taken before and after expansion to determine the amount of midpalatal suture opening, upper facial bony expansion, alveolar bone bending, dental tipping, and buccal bone thickness (BBT). Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and matched-pair t-test (a = 0.05). Results Midpalatal suture separation was found in 100% of the patients with no dislodged microimplants. Total maxillary expansion was attributed to 41% skeletal, 12% alveolar bone bending, and 48% dental tipping. Pattern of midpalatal suture opening was found to be parallel in both the coronal and axial planes. On average, the absolute dental tipping ranged from 4.17° to 4.96° and the BBT was reduced by an average of 39% measured at the premolars and molars. Conclusions The MARPE appliance can be a clinically acceptable, nonsurgical treatment option for correcting mild to moderate maxillary transverse discrepancies for skeletally matured adult patients with a healthy periodontium.

Two female patients presented with gummy smile, maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion and total vertical maxillary excess, retroclined incisors, and increased overbite received orthodontic camouflage with straight-wire mechanics by general dentists. The treatments caused severe bowing of upper occlusal plane which aggravated the gummy smile and had led them to seek specialist care. They were successfully managed by orthodontic camouflage and combined surgical-orthodontic treatment, respectively, in conjunction with the application of miniscrews on straight-wire mechanics. Aggravation of gummy smile by straight-wire mechanics, use of visual treatment objective to differentiate between orthodontic camouflage and surgical cases, and LeFort I segmentalization were discussed.

Asymmetric malocclusion has always represented a challenge to orthodontists, with different dental, skeletal, or dentoskeletal factors being probable causes for the condition. It is a key to distinguish between dental and skeletal asymmetry before determining a predictable force system for corrective treatment. The use of mini-implants (MIs) to address anchorage needs in modern orthodontic practice has become an important tool for orthodontists. They have been widely used for anchorage reinforcement purposes and placed in the dentoalveolar region, especially between tooth roots. However, placement sites other than root areas allow more versatility of orthodontic movement since tooth roots do not interfere in tooth displacement. The objective of the present study is to present a clinical case of asymmetric malocclusion (Class II division 1 subdivision), in which a MI placed in the infrazygomatic crest area was used for correction of the maxillary asymmetry by means of unilateral distalization. Biomechanics of unilateral molar distalization combined with skeletal anchorage has allowed predictable outcomes to be achieved with minimal need for patient’s compliance and minor side effects.