An In-vitro Study of the Load Deflection Characteristics of the Thermal Wires Immersed in Different Fluoride Prophylactic Agents

Fluoridated prophylactic agents have been reported to cause corrosion and discoloration of titanium alloys. Degradation in the mechanical properties lead to a decrease in a suitable orthodontic force, thereby causing delayed leveling of crooked teeth. This study was designed to evaluate the load deflection characteristics of thermal nickel titanium arch wires during unloading phase after ninety minutes immersion in three different fluoride agents.

Forty specimens of thermal wires were obtained from Ortho Technology Company, which had 0.019” × 0.025” rectangular in cross section. Ten specimens from the wire size were immersed in one of the tested fluoride prophylactic agents (neutral sodium fluoride gel, stannous fluoride gel or Phos-Flur® mouth rinse) or in the controlled medium of normal saline and incubated at 37°C for ninety minutes. A Wp 300 universal material testing machine was modified and used to perform a three-point bending test in a water path at 37 ± 1°C. The statistical difference between the different agents was analyzed using ANOVA and least significant difference tests.

The unloading forces at 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, and 1.5 mm where significantly reduced especially in acidulated phosphate fluoride treated specimens followed by neutral fluoride treated specimens.

Based on the results found in this study it can be preferred to use fluoride prophylactic agents with the least acidity and fluoride ions concentration.