9/4/2023

Elastic Materials and the

Production of Orthodontic Force

Dr. Fernando Inocencio

DDS, Dip. in Ortho.

Division of Orthodontics and

Paediatric Dentistry

The Basic Properties of Elastic Materials

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The Basic Properties of Elastic Materials

Returns to the original shape

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The Basic Properties of Elastic Materials

Permanently deformed
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The Basic Properties of Elastic Materials

• The elastic behavior of any material is

defined in terms of its stress-strain
response to an external load
• stress is the internal distribution of the
load, defined as force per unit area,
• strain is the internal distortion produced by
the load, defined as deflection per unit
length.

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Elastic Properties stress /strain graph

Plastic deformation
Stress

Force
Permanently deformed

Elastic Portion

Wire returns back to original dimension when

stress is removed

Strain Deflection
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Strength

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Strength analysis

3 points on the stress strain graph can be represented

to explain “STRENGTH”

1. Proportional limit

2. Yield strength

3. Ultimate tensile strength

Proportional Limit

• Hooke’s law
Elastic stress directly proportional
elastic strain

• Stress /strain is a constant

stress

strain

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Proportional Limit

Yield point
Proportional limit
stress

The greatest elastic stress

possible above which stress is
no longer proportional to the
strain

strain

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Proportional Limit

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Yield Strength

• Is the point at which

any greater force will
cause permanent
deformation of the
wire

• 0.1% of plastic
deformation

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Ultimate Tensile Strength

• maximum load the

wire can sustain
• peak of the curve
• reached after some
permanent
deformation and is
greater than the yield
strength

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Stiffness

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Modulus of Elasticity

• It is measured by the
slope of the elastic
region Proportional limit

• The more Horizontal

stress

slope
The Springier the wire Slope

The more Vertical the

slope,
The Stiffer the wire.
Strain/deflection

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Load Deflection Rate

• Amount of force delivered by appliance for

every unit of activation/deflection
• Clinical analogy of modulus of elasticity is
load defection rate

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Range

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Distance the wire will

bend elastically before
permanent deformation
occurs

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Resiliency
It is represented by the area under the stress strain
graph upto the proportional limit.

Yield strength
Stress

Proportional limit

Resilience Formability Strain

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Formability
Amount of permanent deformation that a wire can withstand before
failing.

Area under the curve between yield strength and fracture point

Fracture point
Yield strength
Stress

Proportional limit

Resilience Formability Strain

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Effect of Wire Thickness

and Length Changes

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Thickness

Thickness X Deflection X

Thickness X/2 Deflection 16 X

Thickness 2X Deflection 1/16 X

1
Deflection ~
(thickness)4

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Length

Length X Deflection X

Length 2X
Deflection 8 X

Length X/2 Deflection 1/8 X

Deflection 8 X
Length X

Deflection ~ (length)3

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Stiff wire (S.S.)

With loops to increase
Range / Decrease
stifness

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Summary

Deflection ~ Load x (Length)3

(Thickness)4

W x (L)3
(T)4

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Summary

• Thinner and longer wires produce

more deflection and lighter forces and
work longer periods before the force
is exhausted extending the time
necessary between orthodontic
appointment.

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Summary

• Thinner wires are more prone to

damage by occlusal forces.

• Wire length can be increased by

adding loops to the wire.

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Properties of an ideal wire

• High strength
• Low stiffness
• High Range
• High formability
• Be reasonable in cost

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• No one arch wire meets these

requirements, and the best results
are obtained by using specific arch
wire materials for specific purposes.

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Stainless Steel

ROUND

RECTANGULAR

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Stainless Steel

• Stainless steel’s rust resistance results

from high chromium content. Typically
18% of chromium and 8% of Nickel.
• Weldable
• Good formability
• High stiffness
• Low range

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Multi strand wires

ROUND

RECTANGULAR

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Multi strand wires

ROUND

RECTANGULAR

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Multi strand wires

• Low stiffness (0.05 – 0.155)

• High Range
• Poor formability but easily deformed
• Poor shape memory

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Nickel Titanium

ROUND

RECTANGULAR

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Nickel Titanium

• Shape memory and super elasticity

• High range
• Relatively constant force
• Low stiffness (0.07)
• Poor formability
• Non-weldable

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Beta-titanium or TMA

ROUND

RECTANGULAR

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Beta-titanium or TMA

• Good strength
• Good springiness
• Excellent resilience
• Good formability
• Relatively low stiffness (0.42)

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Stiff wire (S.S.)

With loops to increase
Range / Decrease
stifness

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Stiff wire (S.S.)

With loops to increase
Range / Decrease
stifness

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Stiff wire (S.S.)

With loops to increase
Range / Decrease
stifness

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Stiff wire (S.S.)

With loops to increase
Range / Decrease
stifness

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Super elastic wire (NiTi)

No loops required, good
shape memory

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Super elastic wire (NiTi)

No loops required, good
shape memory

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Super elastic wire (NiTi)

No loops required, good
shape memory

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Super elastic wire (NiTi)

No loops required, good
shape memory

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Super elastic wire (NiTi)

No loops required, good
shape memory

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Super elastic wire (NiTi)

No loops required, good
shape memory

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Ideal Sequence? (Slot 0.22)

• 0.0175 Multi strand (Coaxial) (2 weeks)

• 0.018 NiTi (3 months?)
• 0.019 x 0.025 NiTi (6 months?)
• 0.019 x 0.025 TMA
• 0.021 x 0.025 TMA

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Ideal Sequence? (Slot 0.22)

• 0.016 NiTi (2 - 3 months?)

• 0.018 NiTi (3 months?)
• 0.019 x 0.025 NiTi (2 months?)
• 0.019 x 0.025 S S
• 0.021 x 0.025 S S

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