The influence of distal-end heat treatment on deflection of nickel-titanium archwire

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the deflection-force behavior of nickel-titanium (NiTi) orthodontic wires adjacent to the portion submitted to heat treatment. Material and Methods: A total of 106 segments of NiTi wires (0.019 x 0.025-in) and heat-activated NiTi wires (0.016 x 0.022-in) from four commercial brands were tested. The segments were obtained from 80 archwires. For the experimental group, the distal portion of each segmented archwire was subjected to heat treatment (n = 40), while the other distal portion of the same archwire was used as a heating-free control group (n = 40). Deflection tests were performed in a temperature-controlled universal testing machine. Unpaired Student's t-tests were applied to determine if there were differences between the experimental and control groups for each commercial brand and size of wire. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the tested groups with the same size and brand of wire. Conclusions: Heat treatment applied to the distal ends of rectangular NiTi archwires does not permanently change the elastic properties of the adjacent portions.

RESUMO

Objetivo: o objetivo dessa pesquisa in vitro foi avaliar a deflexão na porção adjacente à área do tratamento térmico realizado no extremo distal de fios ortodônticos de níquel-titânio (NiTi). Métodos: foram testados 160 segmentos de fios de NiTi (0,019" x 0,025") e NiTi termoativado (0,016" x 0,022") de quatro marcas comerciais; obtidos de 80 arcos. No grupo experimental (n = 40), realizou-se o tratamento térmico no extremo distal; enquanto no grupo controle (n = 40), o extremo distal foi mantido isento de tratamento térmico. Os testes de deflexão foram realizados em máquina universal de ensaios, com controle de temperatura. Foi aplicado o teste t de Student não-pareado, visando observar a diferença entre os grupos experimental e controle, em cada espessura e marca. A significância estatística foi fixada com valor dep < 0,05. Resultados: não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos testados, de mesma espessura e marca comercial. Conclusão: conclui-se que o tratamento térmico não influenciou na deflexão da região adjacente à extremidade de fios de NiTi submetidos ao tratamento térmico.