Advances in orthodontic archwires

Abstract

Recent advances in orthodontic wire alloys have resulted in a varied array of wires that exhibit a wide spectrum of properties. Up until the 1930s, the only orthodontic wires available were made of gold. Subsequently, stainless steel was introduced and due to its superior properties gained popularity over gold. The introduction of nickel-titanium archwires revolutionized the orthodontic field with their shape memory & superelasticity. Several other alloys with desirable properties have been adopted in orthodontics. These include cobalt-chromium, beta titanium and multi-stranded stainless steel wires. The availability of archwires with widely diverging properties has profound implications on appliance mechanics and can be used to advantage at different stages of orthodontic treatment. The newer archwires score over conventional wires in terms of efficiency, total treatment time, and finishing. Also, the current emphasis on esthetic treatment options in orthodontics has led to the development of esthetic archwires. Presently the orthodontist may select, from all the available wire types, one that best meets the demands of a particular clinical situation. The selection of an appropriate wire size and alloy type in turn would provide the benefit of optimum and predictable treatment results.