Work

Comparative evaluation of intraoral aging effects on stainless steel orthodontic archwires: a clinical study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aim. This clinical comparative study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of intraoral aging on the surface topography and frictional behavior of 0.019 × 0.025 inch stainless-steel (SS) archwires from two different manufacturers. Material and methods. A total of 144 SS archwires from two different manufacturers – American Orthodontics (AO) and 3B Orthodontics – were used. For each brand, 72 wires were divided into two groups: Group A (as-received) and Group B (retrieved from patients after 8 weeks of clinical use). Debris was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, surface roughness (SR) was measured with a Talysurf-i60 profilometer, and frictional forces were assessed using a universal testing machine. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparisons and Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation tests, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results. Significant differences were observed between the as-received and retrieved groups. The retrieved group showed higher median debris (p < 0.001) and increased SR, with means of 0.503 for 3B and 0.563 for AO, compared with 0.059 and 0.037, respectively, in the as-received group (p < 0.002). Frictional forces were greater in the retrieved group, with means of 5.042 for 3B and 4.442 for AO, than in the as-received group, with means of 2.983 and 3.525, respectively (p < 0.002). A positive correlation was found between surface roughness and frictional resistance. Conclusion. After 8 weeks of intraoral exposure, significant increases in debris, SR, and friction were observed in SS archwires. These alterations may compromise clinical treatment efficiency by increasing resistance during tooth movement, potentially prolonging treatment duration, necessitating more frequent archwire maintenance, and may even necessitate earlier replacement of archwires to preserve treatment efficiency.

Source: Romanian Journal of Stomatology

DOI: 10.37897/rjs.2025.4.13