title: A review of contemporary archwires: their properties and characteristics.
abstract: The materials used by orthodontists have changed rapidly in recent years and will continue to do so in the future. As esthetic composite archwires are introduced, metallic archwires will likely be replaced for most orthodontic applications in the same way that metals have been replaced by composites in the aerospace industry. Archwires are reviewed in the order of their development, with emphasis on specific properties and characteristics, such as strength, stiffness, range, formability, and weldability. Because an ideal material has not yet been found, archwires should be selected within the context of their intended use during treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7455, USA. rkusy@bme.unc.edu
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kusy
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D012994:Dental Soldering; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D018583:Pliability; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys