V-BEND

Nausheen Mobeen
I yr MDS
Dept of Orthodontics
No appliance exists which will allow an orthodontist to treat
orthodontic problems without adding necessary ingredients
of “Common sense” to the mechanics instituted for
correcting the malocclusion- Thomas .F. Mulligan

Appliance has been refined and will continue to improve

with the passage of time. The danger lies with the
individual who fails to recognize that refinement of
appliance may reduce the physical effort put forth in
treatment, but will not eliminate the need for orthodontist to
understand and apply basic principles of mechanics in
common sense manner.
This means , regardless how well you understand mechanics
and regardless how much appliance is refined, we are dealing
with biological environment whose variation in response will
continue to challenge the orthodontist in many ways.
 STATIC EQUILLIBRIUM
 Understanding concept of equilibrium is important to understand
mechanics of tooth movement
 Equilibrium is defined as “a state of balance between or among the
opposing forces, resulting in the absence of acceleration”
 Concept is based on Newton law of motion
 To meet requirement of equilibrium
a) Sum of all forces present in horizontal direction must be zero
b) Sum of all forces present in vertical direction must be zero
c) And sum of all moments present must be zero
 V-BEND

CENTRE V-BEND OFF CENTRE V-BEND

 Centre V-bend

 Archwire with centre V-bend is inserted into brackets on two teeth a

certain distance apart, the angulation of wire produces two equal &
opposite moment on either side.
 There is no force produced, the system is in equilibrium .
When bend is in the CENTRE , there is no longer exists a
long or short segments.
No force produced because when wire is engaged in
brackets, force cancel each other leaving pure moment
Not a bad situation, when we wish to parallel the roots
following space closure or rotate teeth equally and
oppositely.
CLINICAL APPLICATION:
 K-loop molar distalising spring
 Spring is compressed between first premolar & first molar- distal force on
molar and mesial force on premolar
 Force applied level of bracket and coronal to center of resistance of
teeth
 Cw tipping moment on molar and ccw tipping moment on premolar
To reduce or eliminate the tipping moment – we add V-
bend in spring , centred between premolar and molar
Centred V- bend produces equal and opposite moment ,
which oppose tipping moment generated by force.
 OFF CENTRE V- BEND

 When arch wire with v-bend inserted into bracket ,such that one end is
close to one tooth than other.
 Angulation of wire to be inserted into bracket closer to v-bend is greater
than that on other side
 Greater angulation side causes greater moment of tooth & smaller
angulation causes small moment in opposite direction
 This do not meet requirement of equilibrium
 If bend is located off-centre , there will be long segment and short
segment.
 Short segment is engaged into bracket or tube , Long segment will
point in direction of force produced on tooth that will receive long
segment .
 Short segment points in opposite direction of force that will be produced
on tooth that receives short segments .

 An off-centre v-bend will produce moment on both ends if wire inserted

into bracket slot on both ends – 2 couple appliance
 If wire with off centre v-bend is inserted into bracket slot on one end and
simply tied - as one point contact on other end – 1 couple appliance.
Example for 1 couple appliance
 Molar uprighting spring – long lever arm and tip back bend placed closer to
molar, such that when wire is engaged in molar tube, front end of spring
lies below the premolar bracket.
 As front end of spring is pulled up and hooked over premolar segment as
simple point contact
 It produces ccw moment on molar , there has to be cw moment generated
on premolar
 Cw moment will produce intrusive force on premolar and equal & opposite
extrusive force on molar tooth- static equilibrium.
 STEP -BEND
 Step bend is combination of 2 off centre bends with short section bend in
opposite direction
 A wire with step bend is inserted in brackets with 2 adjacent teeth, two
moments produced that are equal and same direction
 An intrusive force is generated on one end of appliance and extrusive
force exerted on other end , such that they generate a moment opposite
to ones being generated on 2 teeth

 Location of V –bend is critical variable in

determining its effect, but location of stepbend
has little or no effect on either the magnitude
of moment or equilibrium forces.