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The Study of Frictional Force in Self-Ligating Orthodontic Brackets

Nattakarn Hirunyapanun, Nuntinee Nanthavanich Saengfai, Rochaya Chintavalakorn, and Poompada Joachakarasiri
Orthodontic Department, Mahidol University, Faculty of Dentistry, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Abstract—This study was conducted to evaluate the frictional force level among self-ligating ceramic brackets compared with conventional ceramic brackets, self-ligating stainless steel brackets, and conventional stainless steel brackets. Each tested bracket were mounted in passive ligation with the tested wire on the customized jig. Each bracket and wire (0.016 x 0.022" SS) combinations were tested under Universal Testing machine (Instron) with the sliding velocity of 1mm./min and a load cell of 50 newtons. All data were statistically analyzed by a Kruskal Wallis and a Mann Withney U tests. (p<0.05). The results showed significant difference in frictional force among all 4 types of brackets when they were compared to each other. The self-ligating metal brackets produced the lowest frictional force followed by self-ligating ceramic brackets, conventional metal brackets and conventional ceramic brackets, respectively. Therefore, self-ligating ceramic bracket is likely to be a good alternative appliance of choice to solve the problem of frictional force for those patients with esthetic concern during orthodontic treatment 

Index Terms—friction, self-ligating bracket, conventional bracket, ceramic bracket

Cite: Nattakarn Hirunyapanun, Nuntinee Nanthavanich Saengfai, Rochaya Chintavalakorn, and Poompada Joachakarasiri, "The Study of Frictional Force in Self-Ligating Orthodontic Brackets," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 290-295, July 2017. DOI: 10.18178/ijmerr.6.4.290-295