The Orthodontic Archwire Sequence and Its Evolution in Dentistry

January 09, 2019, Orthodontic Teaching

In orthodontics, an archwire is a wire that conforms to the dental arch or the alveolar, uses with dental braces as a force-accelerating source. It aids in correcting the position of the teeth, as well as adjusting any irregularities. It helps in the maintenance of any kind of dental problems, and today, they come in different fabricated options. Orthodontic continuing education courses often guide specialists that they are available in different alloys, including popular options like stainless steel, beta-titanium alloy, nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi), which we will look at in detail below.

Keep in mind that any successful therapy in the orthodontic industry greatly depends not just on manual knowledge and skills about the steps in the treatment, but also on the choice of materials and ample knowledge of this aspect. A major component in orthodontic therapy to focus on is the choice of the wires. The history of these is quite old in fixed orthodontic treatments, and they present various features.

As dentists gain proper knowledge on this and learn how to differentiate between the wires and the uses, they will be able to determine the right wire sequence for their patients. This is an important aspect because it enhances the treatment quality. As you read through below, you will learn about the different features of these wires based on the plan of treatment.

The Evolution of the Orthodontic Archwire Sequence
In the last 20 years, the mechano-therapy in orthodontics significantly has transformed. Now. The conception of the best individualize tooth-programmed positions or straight wire brackets has altered the way orthodontists treat their patients. There is so much information that experts discuss in Gerety Orthodontic Seminars about the differing and unique brackets. However, the orthodontic archwire also has equal importance, which places force on the bracket slots. This creates the right movement for tooth positioning.

Likewise, the orthodontic archwire has gone through significant changes in the past 20 years. The notable evolution is in the material, from classic gold wires to different materials like stainless steel, copper titanium wires, beta, nickel and more. In addition, the shape of the orthodontic archwires has also gone through changes in its shape, from round to other shapes like rectangular, square, to modern beveled surfaces.

In terms of the evolution of archwires, a major concern for dentists is the friction between the bracket slots and the wires. Hence, the accurate positioning of the teeth is important. Note that if there is significant friction between the bracket slot and the archwire, the movement of the tooth may become slow. Now, modern archwires come with the “less friction” feature and maintain the best control on the positioning of the teeth. The modern options in orthodontic archwire sequence come with accurate wire sizes, smooth surfaces, and sharp corners.

The Types of Orthodontic Arrchwires
The common types or the fabricated options today include:

Stainless Steel
The first option in the making of this appliance was stainless steel. It replaced the usage of the noble alloys in the field of orthodontics. Compared to other metals, this is a cheaper option and offer better formability. They can weld and solder readily well on complex appliances. These alloys (stainless steel), are about 18-8 austenitic, containing about 17-25 chromium, 1-2% carbon, and 8-25% Nickel. Chromium is responsible for the thin oxide layer, which also blocks the oxygen diffusion into the alloy. In addition, it allows corrosion resistance. These have high stiffness, corrosion resistant, low springiness, and good and low range formability. They are cheaper options compared to other types and suitable for orthodontic treatments.

Nickel-Titanium Archwire (NiTi)
These days, nickel-titanium wires are also a popular choice for their varying elastic forces within this range. They minimize friction and they are a suitable choice to use. They are lightweight, pliable, and sot when at room temperature. This feature makes it easier to insert in bracket slots. Nickel-titanium wires are available in various applications today, from lightest force to more force on the anterior and posterior teeth. They have added resiliency but may overstress when inserting into the bracket slot.

Beta- Titanium
When you proceed in your orthodontic CE courses, you will also learn about beta-titanium and its adjustable quality within certain limits. It allows dentists to adjust them on individualized patient’s need. It permits torque, asymmetric arch formation, rotation bends, vertical, and buccolingual bends. They are flexible and they permit individualization. This lessens discomfort when inserting the wires.

The trends and appliances in orthodontics continuously evolve. This makes it important for general dentists to keep up with the changes. That’s when orthodontic continuing education can work wonders. Enrolling in continuing education allows dentists to keep up with the new technologies, and learn about new appliances on an on-going basis. It enhances their practice and ensures patients can get their desired treatment. To have a better understanding of the trends in orthodontics, it is best that you search for reliable experts in your area. 

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