Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
| Online Publication Date: 01 Jun 1997
A review of contemporary archwires: Their properties and characteristics
A review of contemporary archwires: Their properties and characteristics
PhD
Page Range: 197 – 207
The materials used by orthodontists have changed rapidly in recent years and will continue to do so in the future. As esthetic composite archwires are introduced, metallic archwires will likely be replaced for most orthodontic applications in the same way that metals have been replaced by composites in the aerospace industry. Archwires are reviewed in the order of their development, with emphasis on specific properties and characteristics, such as strength, stiffness, range, formability, and weldability. Because an ideal material has not yet been found, archwires should be selected within the context of their intended use during treatment. A glossary of terms is provided.Abstract
Keywords: Archwires; Esthetics; Materials; Mechanics; Properties
Copyright: Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists
Accepted: 01 Jun 1996