Sliding resistance with esthetic ligatures: an in-vitro study.
BACKGROUND
This study was developed to evaluate in vitro the properties related to sliding resistance of esthetic ligatures.


METHODS
Frictional force of 6 ligatures--2 conventional, 2 specially coated elastomeric, Teflon-coated (Dupont, Wilmington, Del) stainless steel, and stainless steel (control) ligatures--were studied by sliding 0.019 x 0.025-in stainless steel wire through the 0.22-in slot of stainless steel bracket. Elastomeric ligatures were tested for frictional and tensile forces under 3 experimental conditions: recent stretching, after 21 days of simulated stretching in artificial saliva, and a demineralizing/remineralizing regimen. Statistical analysis was conducted with ANOVA and Games-Howell tests.


RESULTS
There was high correlation between frictional and tensile forces of elastomeric ligatures, with reduction of both after 21 days. The demineralizing/remineralizing regimen reduced the frictional forces of ligatures to the same level as the ligatures in artificial saliva. Teflon-coated and stainless steel ligatures showed the lowest initial frictional forces, but there was no difference in friction of stainless steel and post-stretched elastomeric ligatures.


CONCLUSIONS
Frictional forces generated by esthetic elastomeric ligatures under simulated oral environments are not stable and are more related to tensile force than to surface characteristics of the ligatures.
Bortoly
Thaís Gelatti
TG
Graduate Dentistry Program in Orthodontics, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. ingalill.feldmann@lg.se
Guerrero
Ariana Pulido
AP
Rached
Rodrigo Nunes
RN
Tanaka
Orlando
O
Guariza-Filho
Odilon
O
Rosa
Edvaldo Antônio Ribeiro
EA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D020724:Elastomers; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D017276:Friction; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D013193:Stainless Steel; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013718:Tensile Strength
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020724:Elastomers; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D013193:Stainless Steel; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene