title: Evaluation of mechanical properties of esthetic brackets.
abstract: Plastic brackets, as well as ceramic brackets, are used in various cases since they have excellent esthetics. However, their mechanical properties remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine how deformation and stress distribution in esthetic brackets differ among materials under the same wire load. Using the digital image correlation method, we discovered the following: (1) the strain of the wings of plastic brackets is within 0.2% and that of ceramic and metal brackets is negligible, (2) polycarbonate brackets having a stainless steel slot show significantly smaller displacement than other plastic brackets, and (3) there is a significant difference between plastic brackets and ceramic and stainless steel brackets in terms of the displacement of the bracket wing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, Department of Human Development and Fostering, School of Dentistry, Meikai University, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nippon Institute of Technology, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Eisaku
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Umezaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Pedodontics, Department of Human Development and Fostering, School of Dentistry, Meikai University, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Daigo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Komazawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, Department of Human Development and Fostering, School of Dentistry, Meikai University, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, Department of Human Development and Fostering, School of Dentistry, Meikai University, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suda
keywords: Esthetic brackets; digital image correlation method; mechanical properties