GOOD MORNING

FRICTIONLESS MECHANICS

BY: Dr. Shreya Agrawal

 CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Goals of universal method of space closure
• Anchorage condiderations
• Biomechanics in general
• Engineering principles of loop design
• Spring properties
• Factors influencing M/F ratio
• Types of loops
• T-loop
• K-loop.
• M-loop
• Omega loop
• Vertical loop
• K -sir loop
• Opus loop
• Rickets loop
• Bull loop
• R loop
• Tear drop
• Rectangular loop
 INTRODUCTION
• Extraction therapy is frequently necessary in
orthodontic treatment of patients with severe
crowding or protruding anterior teeth.
• This space can be closed by
1. Retraction of anteriors
2. Protraction of posteriors
3. A combination of both
• Extraction spaces can be closed by using
1. Friction mechanics (sliding mechanics)
2. Frictionless mechanics
• According to Dr. Burstone, in friction
mechanics the high frictional values make the
force and moments acting on tooth difficult to
calculate.
• Also, the friction from sliding of bracket on the
arch wire causes binding of the wire into the
slot which may impede further retraction.
 SIX GOALS FOR ANY UNIVERSAL METHOD
OF SPACE CLOSURE ( Burstone 1982)

1. DIFFERENTIAL SPACE CLOSURE

2. MINIMUM PATIENT CO-OPERATION
3. AXIAL INCLINATION CONTROL
4. CONTROL OF ROTATIONS AND ARCH WIDTH
5. OPTIMUM BIOLOGIC RESPONSE
6. OPERATOR CONVENIENCE
 ANCHORAGE CONSIDERATIONS
• There are 3 types of anchorage used when
considering the space closure:
1. Group A (Critical Anchorage)
2. Group B
3. Group C (Non-Critical Anchorage)
BIOMECHANICAL CONSIDERATIONS
• No friction; teeth move without the bracket
sliding over the wire.
• The spring provides the required M/F ratios in
three dimensions.
• A greater activation range and a more
constant force level and M/F ratio, leading to a
more constant center of rotation (less
wiggling)
 ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES IN LOOP
DESIGNS
• The design of any loop is based on:
1. Physical properties of the loop
2. M/F ratios generated ( determines the type
of tooth movement )
3. Location of the loop
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN A SPRING WIRE
 LOAD DEFLECTION RATE
• The load-deflection rate
gives the force produced
per unit activation.
• 3 main properties of
spring can be
determined:
1. Range of activation
2. Allowable working load
3. Load deflection rate.
• Clinically a spring should have:
1. Large range of activation
2. Large allowable working load
3. Low load deflection rate
• Properties that affect the spring properties:
1. Alloy:
• Greater the modulus of elasticity >> lesser
the range of activation
• SS/ Co-Cr < Beta-Ti
• Force at yield also increases as modulus of
elasticity increases.
2. Cross-section of wire
• The working range decreases and force at
yield increases.
3. Size of wire:

• The load deflection rate α 4th power of the

diameter of a round wire
• The load deflection rate α 3rd power of the
depth(broad) of a rectangle wire
• The load deflection rate α directly
proportional to the narrow dimension of the
rectangular wire
4. Length of wire
• Force varies inversely as the third power of
the length.
• More the length >> less the force
M/F RATIOS GENERATED
 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE M:F RATIO

1. Height of the loop

2. Horizontal loop length
3. Apical length of the wire
4. Placement of the loop
5. Helix incorporation
6. Angulations of loop legs
Burstone, C. J., & Koenig, H. A. (1976). Optimizing anterior and canine retraction. American
Journal of Orthodontics, 70(1), 1–19.
LOOP POSITION
THE BAUSCHINGER EFFECT
• When loop 1 is activated, all
bends are bent in the
opposite direction from the
bends made during its
fabrication.
• In loop 2 all bends including
the helices are
• activated in the same
direction as during its
fabrication.
• Thus, loop 2 is more resistant
to permanent deformation.
 FAIL SAFE MECHANISM
• An important principle in loop design is that to
the greatest extent possible, the loop should
“fail safe”.

• Meaning that, although a reasonable range of

action is desired from each activation, tooth
movement should stop after a prescribed
range of movement even if the patient does
not return for a scheduled adjustment.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LOOPS
• Open loop:
“A loop whose vertical leg separation increases
when activated by traction”
(Base of the loop is open)

• Closed loop: (Reverse loop)

“A loop bent in such a way that the separation
between its vertical legs is reduced when activated
by traction”
(The base of the loop remains closed)
• Closing loop:
“Any loop which upon mesiodistal pulling
activation, is capable of generating a force in the
direction of the activation”

• Opening loop:
“A loop used to create space in a fashion
comparable to an open coil spring”
 VERTICAL LOOPS

DR. R. H. W. STRANG originally introduced vertical loops into the edgewise appliance
during Early 1930’s .
 MODIFICATIONS OF VERTICAL LOOP
• Single open vertical loop
• Single closed vertical loop
• Twin helical loop
• Omega loop
 SNAIL LOOP
•It is a modification of the
omega loop introduced by
Dr.Pavankumar et al .
•This loop design allows
twice as much activation as it
is possible with omega loop.
•It is fabricated
from .017” x .025” Stainless
Steel wire.
•Pre-activation α =25 0
β =350
 TEAR DROP LOOP
• It is similar to the omega loop with
height of approximately 5 - 8 mm .
• Used to close the spaces.
• This loop is used by R.G.
ALEXANDER for retraction of four
incisors in maxillary and en masse
retraction in mandibular arch.
• Wire size and material

• 0.018× 0.025 SS for maxillary arch.

• 0.016× 0.022 SS for mandibular

arch.
 BULL LOOP
• Given by Dr. Harry Bull.
• A sectional steel arch
wire made of 0.0215” x
0.025” is used to retract
the anteriors.
• Activated by opening
the legs.
• Disadvantage:
breakage.
 T-LOOP
• Loop was given by Dr.
Charles J Burstone
1962.
• Made from 017x .025"
TMA wire.
ANTI-ROTATIONAL BENDS
• According to Marcotte,
it is 60°
• According to Burstone.
it is 120°
• According to Proffit, it is
20°
T-LOOP POSITION
 M-LOOP (BETA-TITANIUM CNA
MUSHROOM)
• Pre-fabricated
mushroom loop arch-
wires were introduced
by Drs. Flavio Uribe and
Ravindra Nanda in
2003.
• Pre –activation can be done
by separating the legs of M-
loops approximately 3mm .
• Additional gable bend may be
placed ,as needed mesially to
increase anterior
moment(torque) and distal
to M-loop to increase
anchorage moment. The wire
is ready to be activated
approximately 4mm (3mm
pre-activation+ 1mm
activation).
 K -LOOP
 The K-Loop for Molar
Distalization.
 Developed by Valrun
Kalra in1995
 Made of .017" X .025"
TMA wire.
 K-SIR LOOP
• Simultaneous Intrusion and Retraction of the
Anterior teeth
• Designed by VARUN KALRA.
• To obtain bodily movement and prevent tipping of the teeth
into the extraction spaces, a 90° V-bend is placed in the arch
wire at the level of each U-loop Centered .

• 90° V-bend creates two equal and opposite moments that

counter tipping moments produced by activation forces. This
V-bend, when centered between the first molar and canine
during space closure, creates two equal and opposite
moments to counter the moments caused by the activation
forces of the closing loops
• A 60° V-bend located posterior to the center of the inter
bracket distance produces an increased clockwise moment on
the first molar , which augments molar anchorage as well as
the intrusion of the anterior teeth.
• To prevent the buccal segments from rolling mesio-lingually
due to the force produced by the loop activation, a 20°
antirotation bend is placed in the arch wire just distal to each
U-loop .
 OPUS LOOP
• Developed by Raymond E.
Siatkowski in 1997.
• Fabricated from .016X.022
or .018x.025 SS or .017x.025
inch TMA wir
• He designed a new spring
which delivers a non varying
target M/F ratio within the
range of 8.0-9.1 mm
inherently, without adding
residual moments by twist
or bends anywhere in the
arch wire or loop before
insertion.
 GJESSING’S CANINE RETRACTION SPRING
• Designed by Paul Gjessnig,
Denmark 1985
• Made from 0.016 by 0.022
inch stainless steel wire.
• Ovoid double helix reduces
the load/deflection of the
spring and is placed
gingivally so that activation
will cause a tipping of the
short horizontal arm.
 R-LOOP
• Given by Don Raboud in 2001.
• Fabricated by using 0.017 x
0.025” TMA wire
• R Loop can be used for 1st/2nd/3rd
order corrections.
• All combinations of moments
and forces are possible low load
deflection /large range of
activation
• No inconsistent force systems
• Constancy of Force
• Dissociation of forces and
moments possible
 RICKET’S CANINE RETRACTION SPRING
• A Ricketts maxillary canine
retractor extends from canine
edgewise bracket slot to 2nd molar
tube encompassing 1st molar and
premolar brackets .

• It is fabricated with 0.017 x 0.025

TMA wire. A gable bend of 450 in
canine position and an anti-
rotation bend of 450 .

• A retraction force of 1N is used

for canine retraction. Because of
the force decay , the spring is
activated once in every week.
 REFERENCES
• Biomechanics in orthodontics; Michael R. Marcotte.
• Biomechanics in orthodontics : Vijay jayade
• Modern Edgewise Mechanics and The segmented Arch Technique. Dr. Charles
J. Burstone.
• The biomechanical foundation of clinical orthodontics
• Clinical Considerations in the Use of Retraction Mechanics. JCO 1991.
• The Rationale of the Segmented Arch. AMJ 1962; 48(11):805-821.
• Optimizing anterior and canine retraction. Charles J. Burstone. AJO 1976.
• The K-Loop Molar Distalizing Appliance Valrun Kalra. JCO 1995.
• Simultaneous Intrusion and Retraction of the Anterior Teeth Varun Kalra. JCO
1998
• The snail loop for low friction space closure : Jco 2008 volume XLII, number 4
• Biomechanical design and clinical evaluation of a new canine-retraction spring.
Gjessing P. AJO 1985;87(5):353-62.