A grande variedade de fios ortodônticos presente no mercado pode gerar dúvidas quanto à melhor escolha para situações clínicas. Assim, o conhecimento das propriedades mecânicas dos mesmos facilita a escolha para aplicação do movimento ortodôntico na dependência da fase em que o tratamento se encontra. A evolução da tecnologia de manufatura dos fios e a elaboração de novas técnicas ortodônticas geraram a busca por uma melhor qualidade das ligas, a fim de torná-los biologicamente mais efetivos no que diz respeito aos dentes e tecidos de suporte. O presente artigo resume as principais características dos fios utilizados em Ortodontia, em relação ao histórico, propriedades mecânicas e aplicação clínica, de acordo com fases específicas de tratamento.

ObjectiveThis research aimed at comparing the qualitative chemical compositions and the surface morphology of fracture regions of eight types of Nickel (Ni) Titanium (Ti) conventional wires, superelastic and heat-activated (GAC, TP, Ormco, Masel, Morelli and Unitek), to the wires with addition of copper (CuNiTi 27ºC and 35ºC, Ormco) after traction test. MethodsThe analyses were performed in a scanning electronic microscope (JEOL, model JSM-5800 LV) with EDS system of microanalysis (energy dispersive spectroscopy). ResultsThe results showed that NiTi wires presented Ni and Ti as the main elements of the alloy with minimum differences in their composition. The CuNiTi wires, however, presented Ni and Ti with a significant percentage of copper (Cu). As for surface morphology, the wires that presented the lowest wire-surface roughness were the superelastic ones by Masel and Morelli, while those that presented the greatest wire-surface roughness were the CuNiTi 27ºC and 35ºC ones by Ormco, due to presence of microcavity formed as a result of pulling out some particles, possibly of NiTi.4 The fracture surfaces presented characteristics of ductile fracture, with presence of microcavities. The superelastic wires by GAC and the CuNiTi 27ºC and the heat-activated ones by Unitek presented the smallest microcavities and the lowest wire-surface roughness with regard to fracture, while the CuNiTi 35ºC wires presented inadequate wire-surface roughness in the fracture region. ConclusionCuNiTi 35ºC wires did not present better morphologic characteristics in comparison to the other wires with regard to surfaces and fracture region.

The NiTi and multistranded steel wires showed greater aligning capacity when compared with stainless steel wires.

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to compare, through traction tests, eight types of superelastic and heat-activated NiTi archwires, by six trade companies (GAC, TP, Ormco, Masel, Morelli and Unitek) to those with addition of copper (CuNiTi 27ºC and 35ºC, Ormco). METHODS: The tests were performed in an EMIC mechanical testing machine, model DL10000, capacity of 10 tons, at the Military Institute of Engineering (IME). RESULTS: The results showed that, generally, heat-activated NiTi archwires presented slighter deactivation loadings in relation to superelastic. Among the archwires that presented deactivation loadings biologically more adequate are the heat-activated by GAC and by Unitek. Among the superelastic NiTi, the CuNiTi 27ºC by Ormco were the ones that presented slighter deactivation loadings, being statistically (ANOVA) similar, to the ones presented by the heat-activated NiTi archwires by Unitek. When compared the CuNiTi 27ºC and 35ºC archwires, it was observed that the 27ºC presented deactivation forces of, nearly, ⅓ of the presented by the 35ºC. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the CuNiTi 35ºC archwires presented deactivation loadings biologically less favorable in relation to the other heat-activated NiTi archwires, associated to lower percentage of deformation, on the constant baselines of deactivation, showing less adequate mechanical behavior, under traction, in relation to the other archwires.

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