Comparison of torsional stability of 2 types of split crimpable surgical hooks with soldered brass surgical hooks.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare the torsional stability of split crimpable surgical hooks and soldered brass surgical hooks on a rectangular stabilizing archwire.


METHODS
Coated split crimpable hooks (Never-Slip Grip, TP Orthodontics, LaPorte, Ind), ribbed crimpable hooks (TP Orthodontics), and .032-in brass soldered hooks/notched electrodes (Ormco/Sybron Dental Specialties, Orange, Calif) were attached to a 0.019 x 0.025-in stainless steel archwire. The archwire/hook attachment assembly was secured into a dual contact jig and statically mounted to the base of a universal testing machine. The hooks were engaged by a wire loop attached to the upper load cell of the machine, which pulled the wire until the hook was torsionally displaced from the archwire.


RESULTS
The mean forces, measured in newtons (N), required to dislodge the hooks were as follows: soldered brass surgical hooks (51.3 +/- 5.2 N), coated split crimpable hooks (49.9 +/- 6.6 N), and ribbed split crimpable hooks (31.3 +/- 5.4 N). Data were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post-hoc tests at alpha = .05. Ribbed split crimpable hooks provided significantly less resistance to torsional displacement than the other types of hooks (P <001). There was no difference between coated split crimpable hooks and soldered brass surgical hooks (P >05).


CONCLUSIONS
Under the conditions of this study, the results suggest that soldered brass surgical hooks and coated split crimpable hook attachments provide more stability to torsional dislodgement from a rectangular stabilizing archwire than ribbed split crimpable hooks.
O'Bannon
Shawn P
SP
Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency Program, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Tex, USA.
Dunn
William J
WJ
Lenk
Jason S
JS
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003300:Copper; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008422:Materials Testing; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D013193:Stainless Steel; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019415:Torque; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D015032:Zinc
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003722:Dental Alloys; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; C002802:tungsten carbide; D013193:Stainless Steel; C048399:brass; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc