Force systems from an ideal arch

Charles

J. Burstone,

Herbert

A.

Farmington,

Koenig,

D.D.S.,
M.S.M.E.,

MS.,*

and

Ph.D.**

Conx

he force systems delivered from commonly used orthodontic appliances are relatively unknown. It is little wonder that unpredictable
and many
times undesirable tooth movement is produced during treatment. In the more
sophisticated orthodontic appliances, the force system is produced totally or in
part by placing a wire with a given configuration
into a series of attachments
(brackets, tubes, etc.) on the teeth. In an attempt to determine the force system,
orthodontists in the past have used force gauges to measure the amount of force
required to seat an arch wire in a bracket. IJnfortunately,
this bit of information
is inadequate to describe the force system completely in most clinical applications,
since the situation is statically indeterminate;
in other words, there are too many
unknowns to calculate the forces from an appliance using the laws of statics.
Clinically, such measurements represent little more than pseudoscience, since
they incompletely describe the physical realities and, hence, will not predict the
biologic response and the nature of the tooth movement to be expected.
The purpose of this article is threefold:
(1) to describe the force system
which is produced when a straight wire is placed in a nonaligned bracket
produced by a malocclusion ; (2) to develop the terminology and the approach
to solve and describe force systems from all appliances; and (3) to offer a
scientific basis for developing the orthodontic appliances of the future. To reach
these objectives, the simplest clinical situation will be considered-the
placing of
a straight wire in two attachments on two teeth.
Two-tooth

segments

When an arch wire is placed in the mouth a complicated set of forces is

produced at each tooth. Reduction of this complex system into less complicated
basic units would offer a simpler approach to understanding
and solving many
of the clinical problems that exist. The smallest basic unit that one could study
is the two-tooth segment of an arch, An example of a two-tooth segment could
*Head,
Department of Orthodontics,
School
of Dental
Medicine,
University
of
Connecticut.
**Associate
University

270

Professor,
of Connecticut.

Department

of

Orthodontics,

School

of

Dental

Medicine,

Volume
Number

65
3

Force systems from

271

A
Fig. 1. Positive
mesial
forces

ideal arch

forces.
A, Anterior
are positive
(t).

and

lateral

forces

are

positive

(+). B, Buccal,

labial,

and

be a straight wire placed between a canine and a premolar only. If the wire is
not passive in the brackets, a force system will be produced on the canine and
premolar in isolation from the rest of the arch. By summing a series of two-tooth
force systems, the force system can be found for each tooth along the arch.
Thus, the two-attachment
segment is the basic unit for understanding
forces in
a complete arch. Even though the determination
of the force system on a given
tooth may be more complicated than merely summing two attachment forces,
two-tooth analyses offer a basic building block for understanding
the force
systems from an orthodontic appliance.
Sign

conventions

It is important to adopt
a universal sign convention for forces and moments
which will be applicable for dentistry and orthodontics. The convention is as
follows :
Anterior forces are positive (+), posterior forces are negative (-) , lateral
forces are positive (+), and medial forces are negative (-) (Fig. 1, A). Forces
acting in a mesial direction are positive (+) ; those acting in a distal direction are
negative (-). Buceal forces are positive (+) ; lingual forces are negative (-)
(Fig. 1, B). Extrusive forces are positive (+), and intrusive forces are negative
(-9 (Fig. 2, A).
Moments (couples) tending to produce mesial, labial, or buccal crown movements are positive (+), and moments tending to produce distal or lingual crown
movements are negative (-) (Fig. 2, B and C).
The same convention is used for groups of teeth (a segment or an entire arch)
or for establishing signs of orthopedic effects on the maxilla or mandible.
Force

systems

acting

on the

wire

and

the

teeth

Some force systems on a wire can be fully determined if one force is known.
For example, let us determine the force systems acting on the two-tooth segment

272

Burstone

Am.

and Koenig

J. Orlhod.
March
1974

C
Fig. 2. Positive
that

move

forces
and
crowns
mesially,

moments.
buccally,

A, Extrusive
or labially

forces
are
are positive

positive
(t).

(t).

B and

C, Moments

shown in Fig. 3. A straight wire is placed between a premolar edgewise bracket

and a hook on the canine. The wire is tied into the premolar bracket, and then a
force gauge is used to measure the force needed to lift the wire occlusally to the
hook. The force gauge records +lOO Gm., which is an activation force since it is
exerted on the wire.
The equilibrium diagram in Fig. 3, A shows two unknowns, Py and M. These
unknowns can be found using the laws governing equilibrium. The wire must be
in equilibrium,
once it is placed between the two attachments. If it were not,
the wire would accelerate the patient out. of the orthodontists office. By the laws
of statics, we know that the force system on the wire at the premolar bracket is
-100 Gm. and +700 Cm. - mm. (Fig. 3, B). The force system is therefore statically determinate with the clinical measurement of a single force by the force
gauge.
It is well known that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Force systems

100 gm

from

idecrl

wch

273

hook
on the
B, Activation

canine.
forces

M
: :.. .:,.
I
3*+;:.:-.
: .;.,.. . _
;..:.j:>::-:.:
: .:I:.:.:,::
;:::::
:.:::::.
:. - - _ _ ???i
?[-l y
,..:.
::
:
.,..:.::;
..:: :::
:.::.,
.,
1:
I -7mmI
fif

-b
01 .
--

06

.-,I

FY

1OOgm

--

700gm-mm

I
I

----=--

1
I c---7mmW
I

I
100 gm

700

100 gm

gm-mm

..::,::.:..
...,.:..,.,
;..:.. ..... .. ,...
..;...:.;.
.;.,..,..,.
:.::;;,.:.,.
..I,
,y:
... :.:.;,;::
.y ..
......
.,..1.;.
. . .;:
m ;:,..:.:.:..,

100

gm

Fig. 3. A wire
is placed
in the premolar
bracket
and
lifted
A, A magnitude
of 100 Gm. force
is measured
at the canine
acting
on the wire.
C, Deactivation
forces
acting
on the teeth.

to a
hook.

For example, a rifle is tired. d force propels the bullet forward while an equal
force pushes at the shoulder of the marksman. In a similar way, the forces and
moments acting on the wire are balanced by equal and opposite forces acting 011
the teeth. It should be clearly noted that, in order to find the forces acting on
the wire at the premolar, it was necessary to place the wire in equilibrium. The
force system which is found by the laws of statics and shown in Fig. 3, B is t,hc
activcltimt
force system. It consists of the forces or moments that the orthodontist
exerts on the wire to place it into the attachments
or the forces and
moments exerted by the attachments on the wire. In order to find the forces and
moments acting on the teeth, it is necessary to reverse the signs of all forces and

274

Fig.
angles

Burstone

4.

a?ld Koenig

Wire-attachment
of the

brackets

geometry
at

positions

Am.

is

A and

defined

B (e,

by

the

and

es).

interbracket

distance

(L)

J. Orthod.
March
1974

and

the

moments (Fig. 3, C). Thus, the premolar has acting on it a force of +lOO, a
couple of -700 Gm. - mm. and ,the canine, a force of -100 Gm. The equal and
opposite forces acting on the teeth comprise the deactivation
force system. It is
important not to confuse the activation and deactivation force systems. In order
to determine the unknowns in the orthodontic force system, the following procedure is followed. First, the wire is placed in equilibrium. All activation unknowns are determined. Once these unknowns are found, their directions are
then reversed using the same magnitudes which give the moments and forces
(deactivation force system) acting on the teeth.
If we would like to know how a tooth will move (its center of rotation), it is
necessary to know the moment to force (M/F) ratio at the attachment.
(It is
also required that one replace the M/F ratio at the bracket with an equivalent
system at the center of resistance of the tooth.) For now, however, let us concern
ourselves only with M/F at the bracket in Fig. 3, C. At the premolar bracket
the M/F ratio is -7/l, and at the canine hook the ratio is 0 with only a -100 Gm.
force acting. The effects on the premolar are extrusion (t-) , crown-distal and root
mesial (-) ; and on the canine, intrusion (-) .
The M/F ratio determines the center of rotation of a tooth, group of teeth,
or bones. In the above example, the laws of statics were sufficient to solve for the
unknowns, so that the complete force system including the M/F ratio was known.
Unfortunately,
in most two-attachment
segments, the solution is statically
indeterminate.
In order to solve more complex and statically indeterminate clinical problems
and to throw light on the workings of all arch wires, a computer program based
on the linear beam theory was developed. To simplify the descriptions of the
force systems and to better develop the needed fundamental
concepts, only force
systems in one plane of space were considered, and effects within the bracket slot
were disregarded. The wires studied were 0.016 inch high-temper wire (400,000
p.s.i. yield strength).
The force systems which are described are initial force
systems only. (As teeth move under the influence of the forces, the force system
will change.)
Wire-attachment

geometry

The force system produced by a straight wire placed between two attachments
can be determined only if the wire-attachment
geometry is accurately defined.

Volume
Ntcmbw

65
3

Force

BASIC TWO-TOOTH

CLASS:
8,

IL

1.0

0.5

systems

from

ideal

275

arch

GEOMETRIES

Ip

-0.5

-0.75

- 1.0

Fig.

5.

The

interbracket

six

basic

distance.

geometries
Position

based

A is the

on
canine;

the

ratio

position

8Jes.

B, the

Classes

are

independent

of

premolar.

Fig. 4 shows a two-tooth segment. The interbracket

axis (L) connects the
centers of the two attachments. @A and 8,( are the angles of the attachments
(brackets) measured with respect to the interbracket
axis. 8~ is always the
smaller of the two angles. The geometry of a two attachment-wire
segment can be
fully defined if one knows eA, en, and L.
Six basic two-tooth geometries will be presented in this article. These
geometries, which form six classes, are shown in Fig, 5. The ratio of @A/%
defines each of the six classes.
Thus, e&I% = 1 describes two brackets that are angled the same amount and
are in the same direction with respect to the interbracket axis (Class I) ; 8J8B =
0.5 describes two brackets in which one is angled one half of the other and both
are angled in the same direction (Class II) ; eA/eR = -0.5 describes two brackets
in which one is angled one half of the other and both brackets are angled in
opposite directions from each other (Class IV).
In Fig. 5 the reader will observe a gradually changing @A as eR is kept
constant. Since, by convention, @A is always smaller than f&, the six classes can
be used to describe any two-tooth segments, regardless of the teeth involved. A
consistent sign convention is used to describe the angle of the brackets. The sign
of the angle is the same sign as the moment required to place the wire into the
bracket. Thus, the Class I bracket arrangement shown for the lower left quadrant
has premolar and canine brackets with positive (+) angles.
Let us now proceed to describe the relative force system produced in each
class of geometry, followed by a specific description of the actual forces, moments,
and moment-to-force ratios acting on the wire.
Relative

force

systems

The state of the art is such that even a general understanding

of the relative
magnitudes of forces and moments and their directions is a major advancement.
Table I gives for each of the six classes (1) the actual force system (given
at the yield strength) developed in the wire for both a 7 mm. and a 21 mm.
interbracket distance; (2) the ratio of the moment produced at A with respect

276

Burstone

Table

1. Force

CLASS

and Koenig
systems

by

Am

J Orthod.
March
1974

class

II

Iu

lzr

to B; and (3) the force system that acts on the teeth. It should be noted that,
with the exception of the forces and moment labeled force system on teeth,
all other forces and moments act on the wires. Each class will be separately
described, followed by a comparative description of the general force systems
produced. All descriptions refer to a straight wire connecting the lower left
canine (bracket A) with the lower left premolar or first molar (bracket B)
as shown in Fig. 5.
In Class I geometries, two equal and positive moments would act at position
A and position B. Since the two moments are equal, the ratio MA/MB = +I.
Although the magnitude of the moments may vary, depending upon the amount
of activation and the interbracket distance, the ratio of MA to Me always remains
+l in Class I.
In addition to the moment, two vertical forces are also produced-a
positive
force at position A and a negative force at position B. Force A equals force B.
In all of the geometries considered in this work, force A equals force B for
equilibrium.
If one would like to predict how the teeth might potentially
move, it is
necessary to know the force system acting at the brackets. The forces and
moments acting on the wire are reversed; thus, two equal moments act on the
canine and the premolar. Both of them are negative, which would tend to move
the canine and premolar crowns back and roots forward.
In
most clinical
situations the mesial movement of the canine root is an undesirable side effect.
In addition, the vertical forces produce intrusion at the canine (position A) and
extrusion at the premolar (position B) .

Force

systems

w2-

Mg(gm-mm)

MA(gm-mm)
FA km)

Fig.

WI

w2

048

1860

242.3

e,(degre.s)
M/Fl

front

6. Class

2.0

ideal

arch

w1

W2

848

1860

277

531.4
4.4

LLLL

I geometry-7

mm.

interbracket

distance.

The Class II geometry is characterized by QA having a magnitude of one half

of &. Two positive moments are created at the wire at positions A and B. The
magnitude of the moment at A is 0.8 of the moment at B. A positive force is
found at A, and a negative force at B.
In Class III geometries the interbracket axis cuts across the two brackets, SO
that the ratio of eA to 81~ is 0; thus, a wire placed in the canine bracket (A)
would cross the premolar bracket (B) at the center of the slot. What is the
relative force system produced in this geometry?
AS in Classes I and II, two moments are produced, both positive. However,
the moment at position A is one half the moment at position B. Although the
actual magnitudes of the moments may vary, depending upon the activation and
interbracket distance, the ratio MA/MB is a constant of 0.5. Thus, whenever the
orthodontist
observes this geometry, he anticipates two moments in the same
direction, one moment being one half of the other.
In addition, vertical forces are produced on the wire-positive
at position A
and negative at position B. It should be noted that the relative magnitude of the
vertical forces with the same interbracket distance is considerably less than would
be found in geometries I and II.
Reversing the forces to obtain the deactivation force system, one would find
acting on the canine and the premolar,
two negative moments which
tend to move roots forward and crowns back. The moment on the canine would
be one half the moment on the premolar. The vertical forces produce an intrusive
force on the canine and an extrusive force on the premolar.

Burstone

278

avid Koenig

35
8

Am.

1.0

J. Orthod.
March
1974

L= 21mm

.5

.4
.3

E
E

i=
v5
k
n

POSITION

- mm

MA c
-. 1

ii

-_ 2

-.3

-. 4
-.

Fig.

7. Class

I geometry-21

mm.

interbracket

distance.

In geometry IV the ratio between o,J@,~ is -0.5; in other words, the canine
bracket is angled one half the premolar bracket in relation to the interbracket
axis.
In this geometry, a positive moment is found at position B, but no moment
whatsoever is found at position A. Only a single force operates at position A,
with an equal and opposite force at B. Since no moment is acting in position A,
the ratio of lQMII is equal to 0.
Geometry V could describe a clinical situation in which the canine root is
forward of the crown and the posterior segments, including the premolar, are
tipped into an extraction site. The angle of tip of the canine to the premolar
QA/@( is -0.75. The canine bracket is angled 0.75 of the premolar bracket. In
this example, the moment at A is negative and its magnitude is two fifths of
the positive moment at B. The ratio of M,/M,
is -0.4. Equal and opposite vertical forces act at positions A and B. Note that the direction of the moment at the
canine is opposite to geometries I, II, and III.
The deactivation force system in geometry V has moments acting to move the
root back and the crown forward on the canine (positive) and to move the root
forward and the crown back on the premolar (negative), and the vertical forces
tend to intrude the canine (negative) and to extrude the premolar (positive).
Class VI has premolar and canine brackets equally tipped into an extraction

Volume
Number

Force systems

65
3

e,;
8
B

0.5

from

ideal arch

279

L =7mm

:02-

F
v
!t
i

-.04-

TO5

-.06-

-.03

-.07-

:oa -

Fig. 8. Class

II geometry-7

mm.

interbracket

distance.

site. The ratio of 8*/8n is -1.0. The force system acting on the wire is composed
of equal and opposite moments (negative at A and positive at B) . No vertical
forces are present. The ratio of Ma/MB is -1.0. Thus, equal and opposite couples
would be produced on the teeth, tending to move the canine root back and crown
forward (positive) and the premolar crown back and root forward (negative).
The six clinical classes actually represent a continuum
of possible force
systems that can place a wire between two brackets into equilibrium.
The
clinician will find it useful, even without knowing the exact magnitudes, to
know the direction of the moments, their relative magnitudes, and the direction
of the vertical forces. As the ratio @*/en changes from one geometry to the next,
the force system on the wire, and hence on the teeth, will radically change.
Note that the moment acting on the canine in Class I will tend to move the root
forward ; in Class IV no moment is present ; in Class V a moment tends to move
the canine root back ; and in Class VI a larger moment tends to move the root
back.
The vertical forces FA and FR are equal in each case. However, their relative
magnitudes decrease as the ratio of @A/@r becomes smaller. Since
F

&IA

MR

it can be readily seen that the magnitude of FA and Fn becomes increasingly less.
For example, in geometry I the vertical forces are 531 grams for a 7 mm. interbracket distance. In geometry III the magnitude of the force is reduced to 398

280

Am.

f!L
e
B

= 0.5

L=21

mm
F
B

MB

./

WIRE

POSITION

-mm

I I
I6

is

J. Orthod.
March
1974

I8

20

24

-. 5

5
~6
-.7

w1

MAlw-md

Fig.

9. Class

w2

/;

1482

II geometry-21

mm.

interbracket

distance.

grams; in geometry V, 160 grams; and, finally, in Geometry VI no vertical forces

are present (Table I).
The relative force systems that have been described hold true, provided the
geometry as defined by eA/er, is present for each of the six classes. It is possible,
by interpolation,
to determine the relative force systems for other geometries.
For example, a eA/eR ratio of 0.75 would give an MA/MB ratio of +0.9. It should
be noted further that the relative force systems are independent of the amount
of activation of the wire.
Of particular clinical interest is the fact that very small changes in geometry
can radically alter the force system. The difference between canine bracket angles
of -0.5 and -0.75 degrees with respect to the premolar is not a great difference,
and yet the force systems can vary greatly. The reader is encouraged to look
at the actual force values for a 7 mm. and a 21 mm. segment, so that he can better
visualize the changing force systems of the different geometries (Table I).
The diagram of the various classes presented in Fig. 5 shows the interbracket
axes parallel to the occlusal plane. In many clinical situations the interbracket
axis may not be parallel to the occlusal plane; however, the force system in each
class is determined by the 8*/8r ratio as discussed previously.
Actual

moment-to-force

ratios

In the section entitled Relative Force Systems, we only considered the

ratio of MA/MB and the relative magnitude of the vertical forces. In order to
determine the moment-to-force
ratios acting on each bracket, it is necessary to
know the interbracket
distance (L) in addition to the ratio eA/eB. The data

Force systems from ideal arch

SLzo

281

L =7mm

8
F8

FA
MA

WIRE

POSITION

- mm

j8

.12Fig.

10. Class

III geometry-7

mm.

interbracket

distance.

that follow, which describe the actual force and moment values for the six
classes, have been obtained by the computer program previously described. For
convenience, data are plotted and pertinent parameters are placed in the inset
tables in Figs. 6 to 15.
The reader is referred to Fig. 6, which uses a format that all other graphs
will follow. In Fig. 6 the force system is given for a Class I geometry (0,/e,
=
1) with a 7 mm. interbracket distance. Positions A and B could represent the
lower left canine and premolar positions, respectively. F, and MA, therefore, act
on the wire at the canine bracket. The vertical axis measures the deflection of the
wire in millimeters, and the horizontal axis denotes wire position (the 0 position
is at the canine bracket and 7 mm. is at the premolar bracket). The elastic curve
of a wire placed between bracket A and bracket B is denoted by curves W, and
W,. Wire, (W,) connects brackets angled at 2.0 degrees; wire* (W,) connects
brackets angled at 4.4 degrees. The directions of the forces and moments are
illustrated on the graph; the actual values of the moments, forces, angular
relation of the bracket to a straight wire, and the moment-to-force
ratios are
given in the inset tables. Note that a table on the left describes the force system
at position A and one on the right, at position B.
At positions A and B, a moment of 848 Gm.-mm. acts on the wire. Force* is
242 Gm. and Forcer is -242 Gm. It should be appreciated that relatively large

282

Bwrstone and Koenig

Am.

-zOA
8
8

L =21mm

4 FA

Q3
WIRE

E
E

J. Orthod.

March.1974

POSITION

- mm

.02

5
F
u .04
!Y
kl
n
2 .06
2
.08

fl,(d.gr..s)

Mh]B

6.6
+

20
+-

.I -

Fig.

11.

Class

III

geometry-21

mm.

interbracket

distance.

forces are produced with only a 2 degree rotation of brackets A and B with a
0.016 inch wire. The moment-to-force
ratios are 3.5/l and 3.5/l. Wire, placed
between brackets rotated 4 degrees produces proportionately
greater moments
and forces; however, its moment-to-force
ratio is the same as that of wire,.
Fig. 7 describes a Class I geometry in which the interbracket distance is 21
mm. One could visualize this geometry as a wire connecting brackets on a lower
left canine and first molar. As in Fig. 6, moment, force, angular deflection, and
moment-to-force ratios are given at positions A and B. Classes I through VI are
described graphically in Figs. 6 to 15 and should be referred to in the following
generalizations.
The moment-to-force
ratio is constant for any given class and interbracket
distance, regardless of the amount of deflection. Class I-7 mm. geometries have
M/F ratios of 3.5/l at A; Class II-7 mm. geometries, 3.1/l at A; and so on (Figs.
6, 7, 8, 10, 11, etc.). Thus, the M/F ratio is independent of the amount of activation of a wire required to engage it in the brackets for any given class and interbracket distance. The M/F ratios for a 7 mm. interbracket distance are given for
position A and B in lines 4 and 5 of Table II. Note that, at position A, the ratio
is largest in a Class I geometry (3.5/l) ; becomes smaller in Classes II and III ;
is 0 in Class IV ; and negatively increases from Classes IV to VI. At position B
the M/F ratio is smallest in Class I (3.5/l) and increases to its largest value in

Force

WIRE

Fig.

12.

Class

POSITION-

IV geometry-7

systems

fwm

idenl

nrch

283

mm

mm.

interbracket

distance.

Class V (12/-l).
A similar gradient is shown for positions A and B with a 21
mm. interbracket distance in lines 6 and 7 of Table II. It is evident that, for a
given class, the M/F ratio increases proportionately
with the interbracket
distance.
The moment-to-force
ratios for any two-tooth segment in a clinical context
can be found by the following procedure :
1. Measure the magnitude
of angles 8 A and eII and the interhracket
distance (L).
2. Select the class which most closely describes the two-tooth geometry
( @A/h).

3. Determine

the M/F

ratio at position

[I
M

A, using the

formula

= kl

FA

in which k is a constant given in line 3 of Table II.

of k values between classes is possible.
4. Determine the M/F ratio at position B, using the formula

Interpolation

[f-J,=* [$I*.z
It can be readily seen that the ratios of (M/F) A and (IV/F) B are proportional
to MA/MB, since FA equals F,. The MA/MI3 ratios are given in Table II, line 2.

284

Burstone

and Koewig

WIRE

MA

Am.

POSITION

-mm

-0.5
E
=0

-1.0

5
Iii
8
2
3

-1.5

-2.c

Fig.

13.

Class

IV geometry-21

mm.

interbracket

distance.

e, i-0.75

L=7mm

8B
FA

WIRE

MA

POSITION

FB

- mm
rl

M,

- .l
E
$

-.2

ki
ti2

-.3

ii
z

Fig.

14.

Class

V geometry-7

mm.

interbracket

distance.

J. Orthod.
March
1974

Porte

!!L z-1.0

Lz21

systems from ideal arch

mm

%I

POSITION

fig.

15.

Class

VI geometry-21

The reader should be able to determine

using the above method.
Actual

moment

and

force

285

mm.

interbracket

the M/F

- mm

distance.

ratios given in Table II by

values

The clinician may want to estimate the actual moment and force magnitudes
for each of the six classes. This is accomplished by the following steps:
1. Measure the magnitude of angles ed and eB and the interbracket
distance (L) .
2. Select the class which most closely describes the two-tooth geometry
(@A/%).

3. Determine the magnitude

the formula

of the moment

at position B (MB),

using

where k is a constant given in line 8 of Table II. Interpolation

of
k values is possible.
4. Determine the magnitude of the moment at position A (MA) by using
the appropriate 8A/& constant for each class
e)A = k%s
The 8~ constants are given in line 1 of Table II.

286

Burstone

and Koenig

Table

II. Moment-to-force

Am.

ratios

for

two-tooth

J. Orthod.
March
1974

segments

Class
I

II

IZI

1.0

0.5

1.0

0.8

0.5

0.50

0.44

3.5

IV

-0.5

-0.75

-1.0

0.0

-0.4

-1.0

0.33

-0.66

Undefined

3.1

2.3

-4.6

Undefined

3.5

3.9

4.7

FJJ
L =

-1

-1

-1

(M/F),

VI

[1
[1
[I

-i

11.6

Undefined

-1

7 mm.

-F*
L = 21 mm.
M

E,
L = 21 mm.
LMB = K

5. Determine

10.5

1
10.5
-1
2,960.

characteristics

of two-tooth

9.3

7.0

-i-

-1

-13.8

Undefined

11.6

14

21

35

-1

-1

-1

-1

2,467.

1,974.

1,480.

1,234.

the magnitude
FA

Yield

Undefined

987

of Fn and Fn, using the formula

=

MA

MB

-F,

segments

The clinician is interested in knowing the greatest moment, force, or deflection that he can obtain from a wire without producing permanent deformation.
Thus, a knowledge of the yield characteristics of a two-tooth segment can be most
useful. The yield characteristics for the six classes are given in Table III.
Using a 0.016 inch round wire with a yield strength of 400,000 p.s.i., the
following would be expected. The moment at position A is largest in Class I
(1,860 Gm.-mm.), becomes smaller in Class II and Class III, drops to zero in
Class IV, and negatively increases in Classes V and VI, becoming -1,860 Gm.mm. in the latter. The moment at position B is always 1,860 Cm.-mm., regardless
of class, The moment values given above are independent of the interbracket
distance. Lines 1 and 2 of Table III can be used to estimate the moments at yield

Volume
Number

65
3

Table

III.

Force systems from ideal arch

Yield

characteristics

287

segments

of two-tooth

Class

I
M,
MB
M,
FA
F,
8,
8,
8,
8,

(Gm.-mm.)
(Gm.-mm.)
+ MB = K (Gm.-mm.)
(Gm.)
(L = 7 mm.)
(Gm.)
(L = 21 mm.)
(degrees)
(L = 7 mm.)
(degrees)
(L = 7 mm.)
(degrees)
(L = 21 mm.)
(degrees)
(L = 21 mm.)

1,860
1,860

II
1,482
1,860
3,342.0
477.4
160.0
2.6
5.3
8.0
16.0

3,720.O
531.4
177.0
4.4
4.4
13.1
13.1

III
930
1,860
2,790.o
398.0
133.0
0
6.6
0
20.0

IV
0
1,860
$860.0
265.7
88.6
-4.4
8.8
-13.3
26.6

v
-740
1,860
1,120.o
160
53.1
-7.9
10.5
-23.7
31.5

VI
-1,860
1,860
0
0
0
-13.2
13.2
-40.0
40.0

for 0.016 inch wire. Interpolation

of the table is possible between listed classes.
The maximum force at A and B is length (1,) dependent, since
F

=MA+&
A

L
FA = -Fs

MA t Mn is constant for each class. Line 3 of Table III gives the MA + MIS
constant. The constant divided by the interbracket distance (L) gives the yield
force at A or B. Yield forces at A for 7 mm. and 21 mm. interbracket distances
are given in lines 4 and 5 of Table III. Note that the forces at yield are greatest
in Class I and then diminish until no force is present in Class VI. The force at
yield is inversely proportional
to the interbracket distance for each class.
The angular deflection at yield for 7 mm. and 21 mm. wire length is given
in Table III. QA has its largest positive value in Class I, is less in Class II, 0 in
Class III, and negatively increases to Class VI. en is smallest in Class I and
increases between Class I and Class VI.
It should be remembered that all of the yield values refer to a 0.016 inch
round wire with a yield strength of 400,000 p.s.i. If the yield strength is
reduced or raised, the yield values will vary proportionately.
Discussion

Perhaps no concept has held back the development of clinical orthodontics

more than the idea of the ideal arch. The dogma of the ideal arch states that if a
wire is bent into the shape in which one would like the brackets to be found
at the end of treatment, the teeth will move to that position on the ideal arch
and thus produce the desired occlusion. There is some validity to the ideal arch
concept if one considers a very rigid wire which acts as a mold and the teeth
are slowly displaced through the thickness of the periodontal ligament by intermittent ligation. Today, however, most orthodontists use highly flexible wires,
and as one increases the flexibility of wire, a complicated force system comes into
play which commonly produces undesirable side effects not wanted during

288

Burstone

Am.

and Koenig

J. Orthod.

March1974

..:,+:,>:
~

. .

:.
~

6
Fig. 16. Reading
canine
must intrude
B, Incorrect
force
depicted
Class
IV

:..,

of a wire.
A, Wire
is placed
in molar
bracket.
To reach
the wire,
the
(--) and the root must go back (+) according
to the ideal arch principle.
system
based
on ideal
arch
principle,
C, Correct
force
system
for
geometry.

treatment. The straight wires running between two brackets described in this
article are nothing more than segments of an ideal arch, and it has been clearly
demonstrated that these force systems are not under the control of the orthodontist. If one makes an ideal wire, in a sense the arch wire is doing the thinking
for the clinician. It would be only by sheer chance that the desired force system
would be produced.
Traditionally,
the orthodontist predicts how a tooth will move by a so-called
reading of the arch wire. Reading means placing the wire in one bracket and
determining
the linear and angular change required of the other bracket in
order for it to approach the line of the wire. Fig. 16, A shows a Class IV
geometry involving the lower left canine and first molar. According to the ideal
arch principle, the canine should intrude (-) and the root should move back (+)
(Fig. 16, B). The actual force system for a Class IV geometry has only an intrusive force (-) and no moment acting on the canine (Fig. 16, C). If each of
the six classes is reviewed by placing a straight wire in one bracket and traditionally reading
the other bracket to the wire, it becomes obvious that the

Force

systems

from

ideal

nrch

289

prediction of force systems by this method is incorrect. The correct method to

read a wire is to lay it across the centers of the two brackets and determine
t,he QA/@13 ratio and the interbracket
distance as outlined in this article. It
should be apparent that very small changes in the eA/err ratio and the interbracket distance can readily alter the force system. This is particularly
the cast
in progressing from Classes IV through VI.
This article has concerned itself only with the initial force systems acting on
the teeth from a,n orthodontic wire. As a flexible wire continues to deactivate, the
force system will change. This is an interesting story in itself, since teeth will
wiggle back and forth before they reach a given position at the end of an
adjust,ment. The significance of the initial force system is that it is the force
system of the greatest magnitude and the one t,hat is most likely to be active
during the time the arch wire is in place. After a given number of weeks and
months, a wire is usually removed, so the force system acting at the point of
zero deflection of the wire is theoretical at best. In a later publication it is our
intent to describe the changing force system as a wire approaches zero deflection.
If one considers the round-trip
ride of the teeth produced by changing M/F
ratios during deactivation, the over-all concept of the ideal arch becomes even
more untenable.
To demonstrate the basic force systems produced, a 0.016 inch wire of high
yield strength has been used. As yield strengths vary, the force systems will
vary proportionately,
as described by elementary engineering
formulas. It
should also be remembered that, for other cross sections, the load-deflection rate
will vary as the fourth power of the diameter and the yield forces and moments
as the third power of the diameter. The yield rotations at points A and B vary
inversely as the diameter of the wire.
Thus, using the formulations
described, the force system from any twoattachment segments can be determined in any plane of space where a straight
wire is placed into irregular attachments. More important, the basic theory of
determining
the force systems from orthodontic
wire is given, so that the
clinician might avoid obvious errors leading to highly undesirable side effects.
Although it is now possible to develop nomograph tables, so that force values
can be predicted from an ideal wire, it is obvious that such wires usually will
not give the force system desired. The solution to the problem lies in creative
spring design, namely, designing a wire that delivers the proper force system
and has a geometry that is not so critical but that the clinician is assured that
that force system will actually he delivered to the teeth. A description of the
scientific basis of orthodontic spring design is beyond the scope of this article.
REFERENCES

1. Burstone,
(editors)
2. Burstone,
1-14, 1961.
3. Burstone,
Current
Company,

C. J.:
: Vistas
C. J.:

The
in
The

biomechanics
orthodontics,
application

C. J.: Biomechanics
Orthodontic
Concepts
vol. I, pp. 160-178.

of tooth movement.
Philadelphia,
1962,
of continuous
forces
of

the orthodontic
and
Techniques,

In Kraus,
B. S., and Riedel,
R. A.
Lea 6; Febiger,
pp. 197-214.
to orthodontics,
Angle
Orthod.
31:

appliance.
Philadelphia,

In

Graber,
1969,

T. M.
W.
B.

(editor)
Saunders