title: Torque capabilities of self-ligating and conventional brackets under the effect of bracket width and free wire length.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To numerically investigate the torque capacity of conventional and self-ligating brackets under the effect of varying bracket width and free wire length.
  
  
  METHODS
  Finite element models of three kinds of orthodontic brackets in the 0.022-inch slot size were investigated: Discovery, Damon 3MX, Speed. Additionally, finite element (FE) models of Speed and Damon brackets were generated with the same width as the Discovery. From the left upper incisor to the right upper canine, four brackets each were modelled. The total wire length at the upper right incisor was kept constant at 12 mm for all brackets types. For the Discovery brackets, the wire length was increased from 12 to 16 mm in 2-mm steps. A torque of 20° was applied to the upper right incisor with 0.46 × 0.64 mm(2) (0.018″ × 0.025″) and 0.48 × 0.64 mm(2) (0.019″ × 0.025″) wires. Wires made of stainless steel, titanium molybdenum and nickel titanium were studied. Torque angle/moment characteristics were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wider brackets showed more torque control capability (e.g. Discovery: 10.6 Nmm, Damon: 9.2 Nmm, Speed: 4.0 Nmm for the NiTi wire). Even with the same width as the Discovery bracket, Damon and Speed brackets showed lower torque capability than the Discovery bracket. Increasing the free wire length decreased the torsional stiffness of the wire and thus decreased the torque capability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the bracket design has less influence on the torquing moment than other parameters, such as bracket width, free wire length, wire/slot play or misalignment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of stomatology, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keilig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourauel
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D019415:Torque