title: Effect of material variation on the biomechanical behaviour of orthodontic fixed appliances: a finite element analysis.
abstract: Biomechanical analysis of orthodontic tooth movement is complex, as many different tissues and appliance components are involved. The aim of this finite element study was to assess the relative effect of material alteration of the various components of the orthodontic appliance on the biomechanical behaviour of tooth movement.
  
  
  
  A three-dimensional finite element solid model was constructed. The model consisted of a canine, a first, and a second premolar, including the surrounding tooth-supporting structures and fixed appliances. The materials of the orthodontic appliances were alternated between: (1) composite resin or resin-modified glass ionomer cement for the adhesive, (2) steel, titanium, ceramic, or plastic for the bracket, and (3) β-titanium or steel for the wire. After vertical activation of the first premolar by 0.5mm in occlusal direction, stress and strain calculations were performed at the periodontal ligament and the orthodontic appliance.
  
  
  
  The finite element analysis indicated that strains developed at the periodontal ligament were mainly influenced by the orthodontic wire (up to +63 per cent), followed by the bracket (up to +44 per cent) and the adhesive (up to +4 per cent). As far as developed stresses at the orthodontic appliance are concerned, wire material had the greatest influence (up to +155 per cent), followed by bracket material (up to +148 per cent) and adhesive material (up to +8 per cent).
  
  
  
  The results of this in silico study need to be validated by in vivo studies before they can be extrapolated to clinical practice.
  
  
  
  According to the results of this finite element study, all components of the orthodontic fixed appliance, including wire, bracket, and adhesive, seem to influence, to some extent, the biomechanics of tooth movement.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthodontics, Oral Technology, and.
authors.forename: Spyridon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.affiliation: Oral Technology, and Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education and Dental Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keilig
authors.affiliation: Oral Technology, and Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education and Dental Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Istabrak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthodontics.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.affiliation: Oral Technology, and bourauel@uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourauel
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003188:Composite Resins; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D003765:Models, Dental; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014025:Titanium; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003738:Dental Cements; C023988:beta titanium; D014025:Titanium