Effect of Arch-Wire Coating on Friction of Ceramic Bracket laboratory study

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing demand for esthetics has promoted the development of wires coated with polymeric materials such as polymer matrix reinforced with glassfibers. Thus, the surface and thickness of metallic-coated wires can be modified to affect corrosive properties, mechanical durability and especially friction forces. Aim: To evaluate the frictional properties between Teflon coated and non-coated stainless-steel orthodontic arch-wires (0.017 x 0.025-inches and 0.019 x 0.025-inches) with ceramic brackets of 0.018 and 0.022-inch slots. Material and methods: Sixteen orthodontic maxillary premolar mono-crystalline ceramic brackets, eight brackets with 0.018-inch and eight brackets with 0.022-inch slot size. Roth prescription were used. Twenty stainless-steel 0.017 x 0.025-inch arch-wires were used (ten Teflon coated and ten noncoated). Twenty stainless-steel 0.019 x 0.025-inch arch-wires were used (ten Teflon coated and ten non-coated). All arch-wires were cut to symmetrical equal halves using a wire cutter at the midline and each half was used separately. The total number of wire segments used in the study was eighty orthodontic maxillary stainless-steel archwires. Each ceramic bracket tested five wire segments using new elastomeric modules each time. Each bracket was translated the same distance (5mm) relative to its wire segment by the LR5K Lloyd universal testing machine at the same speed of (5mm per minute). Results: The non-coated 17x25 –inch thickness stainless steel arch-wires showed higher friction than coated ones and the non-coated 0.019 x 0.025-inch. The coated 0.019x 0.025-inches stainless steel wire segments showed significant highest friction of 1687.25±97.5 than non-coated 0.019x 0.025-inches and coated/non-coated 0.017x 0.025-inches wire segments. Conclusion: The coated stainless-steel arch-wires had higher friction than the non-coated stainless-steel arch-wires on mono-crystalline ceramic brackets. INTRODUCTION The Teflon coating on orthodontic arch-wires and brackets increasing the antimicrobial and the mechanical properties, as friction, surface topography, or corrosion resistance. The type and nature of coating materials such as nitride ions, metals, oxides, teflon or resins exhibited stronger impact on determining the potential for corrosion of Nickel-titanium wires compared to values of surface roughness. The result of the study was that coating on the orthodontic wires and brackets used to reduce the friction problem during orthodontic treatment, minimizing the treatment time and the risk of bacteria adhesion(1). DOI: 10.21608/dsu.2022.86825.1073 Manuscript ID: DSU-2107-1073