Comparison of mechanical properties of last generation multi-force nickel-titanium archwires

S. Cherneva, V. Petrunov

Abstract: In the present work, we investigated and compared the mechanical properties of two multi-force heat-activated nickel-titanium orthodontic archwires with rectangular cross section and size 0.016 х 0.022 inches, made by two leading producers. The investigated archwires are as-received and known by the trade names Variable Force 3ТМ (Ortho Organizers Inc. - Henry Schein) and TriTaniumТМ (American Orthodontics). The mechanical properties were examined by means of nanoindentation experiments, according to ISO 14577 standard. The results showed that the TriTaniumТМ archwire has significantly higher indentation hardness and modulus as compared to the Variable Force 3ТМ archwire. Significant differences were also observed in the mechanical properties of the incisal, cuspid/ bicuspid and molar regions of the TriTaniumТМ archwires, whereas the differences between the three regions of the Variable Force 3ТМ archwires were not significant.

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.34, No.3 (2020), 28 - 36

Keywords: mechanical properties; Multi-force orthodontic archwires; nanoindentation

Date published: 2020-10-15