title: Comparative analysis of real and ideal wire-slot play in square and rectangular archwires.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the degree to which the height, width, and cross-section of rectangular and square orthodontic archwires affect the play between the archwires and the bracket slot.
  
  
  METHODS
  The stated measurements (height and width) of 43 archwires from six different manufacturers were compared with real values obtained using a digital gauge. The curvature (radius) of the edge bevels was also measured to calculate the play within the slot, and this measurement was compared with the ideal value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The real height and width of the archwires differed from those stated by the manufacturers, falling within the range -6.47% and +5.10%. The curvature of each bevel on each archwire cross-section was shown to differ, and consequently increased the real play between the archwire and slot with respect to the ideal to different degrees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The archwire-slot play was greater than the ideal for each archwire considered, inevitably leading to a loss of information within the system.
authors.affiliation: a   Adjunct Professor, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: b   Research Assistant, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arreghini
authors.affiliation: c   Resident, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bratti
authors.affiliation: d   Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mollica
authors.affiliation: e   Chartered Statistician, Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society, Cattolica University, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spedicato
authors.affiliation: d   Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.affiliation: f   PhD student, Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortini
authors.affiliation: g   Professor and Chairman, Postgraduate School of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siciliani
mesh_terms: D003722:Dental Alloys; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D009969:Orthodontic Wires
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys
keywords: Archwires; Edge bevel; Third-order play; Wire imprecision