Background and Objective: According to microbiological investigations, microorganisms, especially Lactobacillus strains, considerably increase after using fixed orthodontic appliances. One of the Lactobacilli bacteria found in the oral cavity is Lactobacillus acidophilus. The purpose of this study was to compare the adhesion of Lactobacillus acidophilus to metal and ceramic brackets with coated and uncoated nickel titanium (NiTi) orthodontic archwires. Methods: Forty () samples were divided into four groups for this in vitro study: 10 metal brackets with coated NiTi archwire, 10 metal brackets with uncoated NiTi archwire, 10 ceramic brackets with coated NiTi archwire, and 10 ceramic brackets with uncoated NiTi archwire. Elisa Reader was used to count the number of Lactobacillus acidophilus attachments, and the one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were used to analyze all results. Results: The results showed significant differences in the attachment of Lactobacillus Acidophilus between the ceramic bracket and coated NiTi archwire sample groups and the metal bracket and uncoated NiTi archwire sample groups (P= 0.01). The adherence of Lactobacillus acidophilus to the ceramic bracket and uncoated NiTi archwire group was higher than the metal bracket and coated NiTi archwire group, and the metal bracket and uncoated NiTi archwire group. The attachment of Lactobacillus acidophilus to the metal bracket and uncoated NiTi archwire groups was the lowest of all sample groups in this study. Conclusion The highest Lactobacillus acidophilus adherence was in the ceramic bracket with coated NiTi archwire group compared to the other three groups.
Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Orthodontic Wires

In the orthodontics process, intervention and sliding of an orthodontic bracket during the orthodontic process can arise large response of the labio-cheek soft tissue. Soft tissue damage and ulcers frequently happen at the early stage of orthodontic treatment. In the field of orthodontic medicine, qualitative analysis is always carried out through statistics of clinical cases, while quantitative explanation of bio-mechanical mechanism is lacking. For this purpose, finite element analysis of a three-dimensional labio-cheek-bracket-tooth model is conducted to quantify the bracket-induced mechanical response of the labio-cheek soft tissue, which involves complex coupling of contact nonlinearity, material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity. Firstly, based on the biological composition characteristics of labio-cheek, a second-order Ogden model is optimally selected to describe the adipose-like material of the labio-cheek soft tissue. Secondly, according to the characteristics of oral activity, a two-stage simulation model of bracket intervention and orthogonal sliding is established, and the key contact parameters are optimally set. Finally, the two-level analysis method of overall model and submodel is used to achieve efficient solution of high-precision strains in submodels based on the displacement boundary obtained from the overall model calculation. Calculation results with four typical tooth morphologies during orthodontic treatment show that: ① the maximum strain of soft tissue is distributed along the sharp edges of the bracket, consistent with the clinically observed profile of soft tissue deformation; ② the maximum strain of soft tissue is reduced as the teeth align, consistent with the clinical manifestation of common damage and ulcers at the beginning of orthodontic treatment and reduced patient discomfort at the end of treatment. The method in this paper can provide reference for relevant quantitative analysis studies in the field of orthodontic medical treatment at home and abroad, and further benefit to the product development analysis of new orthodontic devices.
Humans ; Periodontal Ligament/physiology* ; Orthodontic Wires ; Cheek ; Ulcer ; Tooth ; Finite Element Analysis

Patients who have a moderate periodontitis with pathologic tooth migration of maxillary incisors, it is necessary not only periodontal treatment for reduce periodontal inflammation, but also orthodontic treatment to teeth repositioning. For orthodontic treatment, it is necessary to apply less force and careful considerations of the center of resistance of the tooth and optimal force of tooth movement. At this time, the segmental arch applied only to the target teeth, is more effective and predictable, because applied force and direction can be controlled. In addition, to design the orthodontic appliance that can prevent the unwanted tooth movement that used as an anchorage is important. In recent years, various types of skeletal anchorage system have been used for preventing loss of the anchorage. We reported the patient who had extruded maxillary central incisor due to pathologic tooth migration, treated by a successful periodontal-orthodontic multidisciplinary treatment using an orthodontic appliance designed to apply less traumatic force and reduce an anchorage loss.
Humans ; Incisor ; Inflammation ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Orthodontic Wires ; Periodontitis ; Tooth ; Tooth Migration ; Tooth Movement

OBJECTIVE: In our previous study, glass-fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRPs) made from polycarbonate and glass fibers were prepared for esthetic orthodontic wires using pultrusion. These laboratory GFRP wires are more transparent than the commercially available nickel-titanium wire; however, an investigation of the color stability of GFRP during orthodontic treatment is needed. Accordingly, in the present study, the color stability of GFRP was assessed using colorimetry. METHODS: Preparation of GFRP esthetic round wires (diameter: 0.45 mm [0.018 inch]) using pultrusion was described previously. Here, to investigate how the diameter of fiber reinforcement affects color stability, GFRPs were prepared by incorporating either 13-microm (GFRP-13) or 7-microm glass (GFRP-7) fibers. The color changes of GFRPs after 24 h, and following 1, 2, and 4 weeks of coffee immersion at 37degrees C, were measured by colorimetry. We evaluated the color stability of GFRPs by two evaluating units: the color difference (DeltaE*) and National Bureau of Standards (NBS). RESULTS: After immersion, both GFRPs showed almost no visible color change. According to the colorimetry measurements, the DeltaE* values of GFRP-13 and GFRP-7 were 0.73-1.16, and 0.62-1.10, respectively. In accordance with NBS units, both GFRPs showed "slight" color changes. As a result, there were no significant differences in the DeltaE* values or NBS units for GFRP-13 or GFRP-7. Moreover, for both GFRPs, no significant differences were observed in any of the immersion periods. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the GFRPs will maintain high color stability during orthodontic treatment, and are an attractive prospect as esthetic orthodontic wires.
Coffee ; Colorimetry ; Esthetics ; Glass ; Immersion ; Orthodontic Wires* ; Plastics*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the metal artifacts from common metal orthodontic brackets in magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dry mandible with 12 intact premolars was prepared, and was scanned ten times with various types of brackets: American, 3M, Dentaurum, and Masel orthodontic brackets were used, together with either stainless steel (SS) or nickel titanium (NiTi) wires. Subsequently, three different sequences of coronal and axial images were obtained: spin-echo T1-weighted images, fast spin-echo T2-weighted images, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. In each sequence, the two sequential axial and coronal images with the largest signal-void area were selected. The largest diameters of the signal voids in the direction of the X-, Y-, and Z-axes were then measured twice. Finally, the mean linear values associated with different orthodontic brackets were analyzed using one-way analysis of variation, and the results were compared using the independent t-test to assess whether the use of SS or NiTi wires had a significant effect on the images. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were only observed along the Z-axis among the four different brands of orthodontic brackets with SS wires. A statistically significant difference was observed along all axes among the brackets with NiTi wires. A statistically significant difference was found only along the Z-axis between nickel-free and nickel-containing brackets. CONCLUSION: With respect to all axes, the 3M bracket was associated with smaller signal-void areas. Overall, the 3M and Dentaurum brackets with NiTi wires induced smaller artifacts along all axes than those with SS wires.
Artifacts* ; Bicuspid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mandible ; Nickel ; Orthodontic Brackets* ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel ; Titanium

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the frictional force (FR) in self-ligating brackets among different bracket-archwire angles, bracket materials, and archwire types. METHODS: Passive and active metal self-ligating brackets and active ceramic self-ligating brackets were included as experimental groups, while conventional twin metal brackets served as a control group. All brackets were maxillary premolar brackets with 0.022 inch [in] slots and a -7degrees torque. The orthodontic wires used included 0.018 round and 0.019 x 0.025 in rectangular stainless steel wires. The FR was measured at 0degrees, 5degrees, and 10degrees angulations as the wire was drawn through the bracket slots after attaching brackets from each group to the universal testing machine. Static and kinetic FRs were also measured. RESULTS: The passive self-ligating brackets generated a lower FR than all the other brackets. Static and kinetic FRs generally increased with an increase in the bracket-archwire angulation, and the rectangular wire caused significantly higher static and kinetic FRs than the round wire (p < 0.001). The metal passive self-ligating brackets exhibited the lowest static FR at the 0degrees angulation and a lower increase in static and kinetic FRs with an increase in bracket-archwire angulation than the other brackets, while the conventional twin brackets showed a greater increase than all three experimental brackets. CONCLUSIONS: The passive self-ligating brackets showed the lowest FR in this study. Self-ligating brackets can generate varying FRs in vitro according to the wire size, surface characteristics, and bracket-archwire angulation.
Bicuspid ; Ceramics ; Friction* ; Humans ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel ; Torque

α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and tenascin-C are stress-induced phenotypic features of myofibroblasts. The expression levels of these two proteins closely correlate with the extracellular mechanical microenvironment. We investigated how the expression of α-SMA and tenascin-C was altered in the periodontal ligament (PDL) under orthodontic loading to indirectly reveal the intrinsic mechanical microenvironment in the PDL. In this study, we demonstrated the synergistic effects of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and mechanical tensile or compressive stress on myofibroblast differentiation from human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). The hPDLCs under higher tensile or compressive stress significantly increased their levels of α-SMA and tenascin-C compared with those under lower tensile or compressive stress. A similar trend was observed in the tension and compression areas of the PDL under continuous light or heavy orthodontic load in rats. During the time-course analysis of expression, we observed that an increase in α-SMA levels was matched by an increase in tenascin-C levels in the PDL under orthodontic load in vivo. The time-dependent variation of α-SMA and tenascin-C expression in the PDL may indicate the time-dependent variation of intrinsic stress under constant extrinsic loading.
Actins ; analysis ; drug effects ; Adult ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Microenvironment ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Myofibroblasts ; physiology ; Orthodontic Wires ; Periodontal Ligament ; chemistry ; cytology ; Pressure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tenascin ; analysis ; drug effects ; Time Factors ; Tooth Movement Techniques ; instrumentation ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEFrictions of Lock-loose brackets with ligated main wings or all six wings were measured as they slid along archwires in dry and artificial saliva environments. The Lock-loose brackets were then compared with traditional brackets and self-ligating brackets.

METHODSThe surface states of the stainless steel archwires were observed with atomic force microscopy before and after mechanical traction. The Lock-loose brackets, traditional brackets, and self-ligating brackets used in this study were composed of 0.406 4 and 0.457 2 mm stainless steel round archwires and 0.457 2 mm x 0.634 9 mm and 0.482 6 mm x 0.634 9 mm stainless steel rectangular archwires. Two different ligating methods were applied to the Lock-loose brackets, i.e., main wings ligated and all six wings ligated. Frictions were measured by using an electronic universal testing machine.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found between the roughness of different archwires before and after mechanical traction in different brackets (P > 0.05). When the main wings of the Lock-loose brackets were ligated, the frictions of the four different stainless steel archwires were close to zero, and the difference with frictions of traditional brackets was significant (P < 0.05). When using 0.457 2 mm x 0.634 9 mm rectangular archwires, maximum friction (P < 0.05; significantly different from those of other brackets) was reached when all six wings of the Lock-loose brackets were ligated. Frictions in the dry state were higher than those in the wet state (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Lock-loose brackets can adjust the friction efficiently with different ligating methods, thus solving the problem of low friction and strengthening anchorage.

Friction ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of orthodontic treatment of skeletal crossbite adults with mandibular deviation.

METHODSEighteen skeletal Class III adult patients with borderline skeletal crossbite and mandibular deviation were selected (5 males, 13 females). The mean age was 25 years. All cases were treated with straight-wire appliance in upper arch and occlusal plate in the lower arch.Elastics were applied to correct mandibular deviation. Cephalometric analysis was carried out before and after treatment. Paired t-test was performed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the anterior crossbite was corrected and Class I molar and canine relationships were achieved. The inclination of upper incisors was increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONSStraight-wire appliance combined with occlusal plate was effective on correcting adult patients with mild, moderate skeletal crossbite and mandibular deviation.

Adult ; Cephalometry ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Malocclusion ; therapy ; Molar ; Orthodontic Wires

Combined with a case, the mechanical analysis and clinical application of micro-implant combining with utility arch were introduced in this paper.
Humans ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Orthodontic Wires ; Tooth Movement Techniques