Abstract
BackgroundNickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires are routinely used for initial leveling and alignment of teeth in orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to clinically compare the level of pain and tooth alignment in orthodontic treatment with A-NiTi versus Cu-NiTi archwires.MethodsIn this parallel randomized clinical trial, 88 orthodontic patients (12–25 years) with an irregularity index > 2 mm in the anterior site of the lower dental arch who required non-extraction orthodontic treatment of the lower arch were randomized into two age- and sex-matched groups (n = 44) for treatment with A-NiTi and Cu-NiTi initial archwires. Each archwire was used for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the irregularity index was measured, and the level of pain was scored using the Modified McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) according to the time of onset and duration of pain, and analgesic intake. Data were analyzed by paired t test, independent samples t test, and Chi-square test (P < 0.05).ResultsThe irregularity index significantly decreased in both groups after 6 weeks of treatment (P < 0.001). However, the difference in this respect was not significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). Pain perception (P = 0.487), duration of pain (P = 0.546), and analgesic intake (P = 0.102) were not significantly different between the two groups either.ConclusionBoth A-NiTi and Cu-NiTi archwires are equally effective for tooth alignment in the anterior site of the lower dental arch and have no significant difference with regard to the level of pain experienced by patients.Trial registration number: IRCT20190705044102N1 and Name of the registry: Iranian registry of clinical trials (https://irct.ir/) Date of registration: September, 26, 2019
Highlights
Nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires are routinely used for initial leveling and alignment of teeth in orthodontic treatment
Participant flow A total of 88 orthodontic patients were evaluated in two groups (n = 44)
The mean irregularity index in the Cu-NiTi group was slightly higher than that in the Austenite Nickel–titanium (A-NiTi) group but not significantly (P = 0.065). This parallel randomized clinical trial compared A-NiTi super-elastic archwire and Cu-NiTi thermo-elastic archwire regarding the amount of tooth alignment and the level of pain experienced by patients in this process
Summary
Nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires are routinely used for initial leveling and alignment of teeth in orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to clinically compare the level of pain and tooth alignment in orthodontic treatment with A-NiTi versus Cu-NiTi archwires. Archwires generate the force required for orthodontic tooth movement. Selection of an appropriate archwire in fixed orthodontic treatment. The force generated by an archwire highly depends on the physical properties of the material used for the fabrication of archwire. Due to the wide range of mechanical properties of different alloys, archwires with the same size and shape but different stiffness can be fabricated [1]. Selection of a suitable archwire is an important step that determines the success of leveling and alignment of the teeth [2] An archwire should be biocompatible, must have low stiffness to release light force upon activation, high strength, and resistance to permanent deformation, should preserve its elasticity for a long period of time, and must be easy to use and low-cost [1].
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