Is there aesthetic difference between the different orthodontic wires used with porcelain braces?

By Célia Regina Maio Pinzan-Vercelino, Assistant professor, Ceuma University, Orthodontic Departament, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, São Luís, MA, Brazil

Daily, several patients who choose to use orthodontic braces ask dentists to use porcelain aesthetic brackets. Concerned with the aesthetics of orthodontic appliance from the perspective of the population, researchers at Ceuma University conducted research to evaluate the wires aesthetics used with porcelain brackets. The research was published in the of the Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics (vol. 24, no. 1). The results showed that people observed differences between the wires, preferring the wires covered by aesthetic materials.

The researchers photographed a patient with a fixed porcelain braces using the metallic wires and wires covered with aesthetic materials (epoxy resin and rhodium). The images were presented to the public that was instructed to evaluate the device’s aesthetics. The results showed that the aesthetic wires received higher scores, indicating better aesthetics.

Source: The authors.

Figure 1. A) Stainless steel archwire. B) NiTi archwire. C) NiTi archwire coated with epoxy resin.D) NiTi archwire coated with rhodium.

Although many patients choose to use porcelain braces, there is often a common use of metal wires. According to the literature, problems related to discoloration and peeling of the aesthetic material that covers the wire (ELAYYAN; SILIKAS; BEARN, 2008; RONGO, et al., 2014) would be the main causes for orthodontists to choose the use of metallic wires. However, the opinion of the public regarding the wires used had not yet been studied and the results showed that the covered aesthetic wires improved the visual appearance of ceramic brackets.

Adult patients often consider the aesthetic aspects of braces to base their decisions on accepting orthodontic treatment (FEU, et al., 2012). Therefore, orthodontists, as well as industry, must pay attention to the aesthetic expectations of the population regarding the devices available in the market, in order to provide the necessary modifications to restore an adequate chewing function and dental alignment, while preserving patient’s self-esteem during the treatment.

References

ELAYYAN, F., SILIKAS, N. and BEARN, D. Ex vivo surface and mechanical properties of coated orthodontic archwires. Eur J Orthod [online]. 2008, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 661-667, e-ISSN: 1460-2210 [viewed 19 August 2019]. DOI: 10.1093/ejo/cjn057. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19011166

FEU, D., et al. Esthetic perception and economic value of orthodontic appliances by lay Brazilian adults. Dental Press J. Orthod. [online]. 2012, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 102-114, ISSN: 2176-9451 [viewed 19 August 2019]. DOI: 10.1590/S2176-94512012000500015. Available from: http://ref.scielo.org/2qpj6y

RONGO, R., et al. Effects of intraoral aging on surface properties of coated nickel-titanium archwires. Angle Orthod [online]. 2014, vol. 84, no. 4, pp. 665-672, eISSN‎: ‎1945-7103 [viewed 19 August 2019]. DOI: 10.2319/081213-593.1. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24308528

To read the article, access it:

PINZAN-VERCELINO, C.R.M., et al. Do laypersons perceive aesthetic differences between coated and uncoated orthodontic archwires? Dental Press J. Orthod. [online]. 2019, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 62-67, ISSN: 2176-9451 [viewed 19 August 2019]. DOI: 10.1590/2177-6709.24.1.062-067.oar. Available from: http://ref.scielo.org/f3yb7v

External link

Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics – DPJO: <http://www.scielo.br/dpjo>