The dimensions of preformed nickel-titanium archwires measured at the bracket positions corresponding to the central incisor, canine, and first molar

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics 2024-09, Vol.166 (3), p.235-243
• Main Authors: Sugiyama, Yuya, Tochigi, Keisuke, Tachi, Akihiko, Arai, Kazuhito
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2024.05.010

Variation in the thickness of commercially available preformed rectangular archwires at the bracket positions has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, this study measured the edgewise (height) and flatwise (width) dimensions of preformed rectangular nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires at bracket positions corresponding to the central incisor, canine, and first molar and compared them among bracket positions. Sixty types of preformed rectangular NiTi mandibular archwires indicated as 0.019 × 0.025-in were obtained from 14 manufacturers. The height and width dimensions of archwires were measured at 4 points (3 bracket positions corresponding to the central incisor, canine, and first molar, and 1 terminal end) of each side of each archwire using a micrometer and compared with the indicated dimensions using 1-sample t tests. Furthermore, the measured dimensions were compared among the 3 bracket positions using a 1-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc test. The measured dimensions were significantly smaller than the indicated dimensions for all points except the central incisor point for height and significantly smaller than the indicated dimensions for all points for width. Comparisons among points showed that for height, the central incisor point was significantly larger than the first molar and terminal points. However, no significant differences were found for width at any point. The measured dimensions of preformed NiTi archwires at the bracket positions were generally smaller than the indicated dimensions, with variations observed not only among products but also among manufacturers. •The dimensions of preformed nickel-titanium archwires were measured at 3 bracket positions.•The measured dimensions tended to be smaller than the indicated dimensions.•The measured dimensions varied among the points, and the central incisor was the largest.