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Orthodontic Materials: Properties and Effectiveness of Use
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Orthodontic Materials: Properties and Effectiveness of Use

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 2951

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matthias Mertmann

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Guest Editor
Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, LMU University Hospital, LMU, 80336 Munich, Germany
Interests: material science; biomechanics; brackets; NiTi alloys
Prof. Dr. Andrea Wichelhaus

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, LMU University Hospital, LMU, 80336 Munich, Germany
Interests: orthodontic research; biomechanics; material science; mechano-biology; genetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of materials in orthodontic research and clinical applications has shifted focus from traditional metal-based appliances towards laser-sintered metallic devices, polymeric foils, and printable plastics, e.g., for use in aligners. To date, questions about sustainability and environmental footprints need to be considered and addressed scientifically, together with equally important aspects of patients’ benefits, comfort, and possible side effects.

This Special Issue collects research papers discussing new developments in orthodontic material science and their application in treatment systems. This comprises papers that discuss mechanical properties and the simulation of forces and moments in clinical application and in vivo studies. In addition to material science, papers that detail environmental aspects and sustainability are also invited.

Dr. Matthias Mertmann
Prof. Dr. Andrea Wichelhaus
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • orthodontics
  • metals
  • mechanical properties
  • simulation
  • brackets
  • aligner
  • treatment system
  • sustainability
  • environmental effects
  • retention
  • surface structure
  • adhesion
  • polymers
  • clinical studies
  • 3D printing
  • laser sintering
  • CAD–CAM retainer

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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15 pages, 2513 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Investigation Using a New Biomechanical Force–Torque Analysis System: Comparison of Conventional and CAD/CAM-Fixed Orthodontic Retainers
by Francesca Thaden, Linus Hötzel, Hisham Sabbagh, Matthias Mertmann and Andrea Wichelhaus
Materials 2024, 17(19), 4916; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17194916 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 675
Abstract
(1) Background: After more than a decade since their first description, Inadvertent Tooth Movements (ITMs) remain an adverse effect of orthodontic retainers without a clear etiology. To further investigate the link between ITMs and the mechanical properties of different retainers, the response upon [...] Read more.
(1) Background: After more than a decade since their first description, Inadvertent Tooth Movements (ITMs) remain an adverse effect of orthodontic retainers without a clear etiology. To further investigate the link between ITMs and the mechanical properties of different retainers, the response upon vertical loading was compared in three retainer types (two stainless steel and one nickel–titanium). The influence of different reference teeth was also considered. (2) Methods: Three retainers (R1, R2, R3) were tested in a newly developed biomechanical analysis system (FRANS). They were bonded to 3D-printed models of the lower anterior jaw and vertically displaced up to 0.3 mm. Developing forces and moments were recorded at the center of force. (3) Results: The vertical displacement caused vertical forces (Fz) and labiolingual moments (My) to arise. These were highest in the lateral incisors (up to 2.35 ± 0.59 N and 9.27 ± 5.86 Nmm for R1; 1.69 ± 1.06 N and 7.42 ± 2.65 Nmm for R2; 3.28 ± 1.73 N and 15.91 ± 9.71 Nmm for R3) for all analyzed retainers and with the R3 retainer for all analyzed reference teeth, while the lowest Fz and My values were recorded with the R1 retainer. (4) Conclusions: Displacements of 0.2 mm and larger provided forces and moments which could be sufficient to cause unwanted torque movements, such as ITMs, in all analyzed retainers. Clinicians must be mindful of these risks and perform post-treatment checkups on patients with retainers of all materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthodontic Materials: Properties and Effectiveness of Use)
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15 pages, 4986 KiB  
Article
Relevant Aspects in the Mechanical and Aging Degradation of NiTi Alloy with R-Phase in Endodontic Files
by Patricia Sánchez, Benedetta Vidi, Cristina Rico, Jesús Mena-Alvarez, Javier Gil and Juan Manuel Aragoneses
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3351; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133351 - 6 Jul 2024
Viewed by 696
Abstract
One of the most important challenges in endodontics is to have files that have excellent flexibility, toughness, and high fatigue life. Superelastic NiTi alloys have been a breakthrough and the new R-phase NiTi alloys promise to further optimize the good properties of NiTi [...] Read more.
One of the most important challenges in endodontics is to have files that have excellent flexibility, toughness, and high fatigue life. Superelastic NiTi alloys have been a breakthrough and the new R-phase NiTi alloys promise to further optimize the good properties of NiTi alloys. In this work, two austenitic phase endodontic files with superelastic properties (Protaper and F6) and two austenitic phase files with the R-phase (M-wire and Reciproc) have been studied. The transformation temperatures were studied by calorimetry. Molds reproducing root canals at different angles (30, 45, and 70°) were obtained with cooling and loads simulating those used in the clinic. Mechanical cycles of different files were realized to fracture. Transformation temperatures were determined at different number of cycles. The different files were heat treated at 300 and 500 °C as the aging process, and the transformation temperatures were also determined. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the fractography and precipitates of the files. The results show that files with the R-phase have higher fracture cycles than files with only the austenitic phase. The fracture cycles depend on the angle of insertion in the root canal, with the angle of 70° being the one with the lowest fracture cycles in all cases. The R-Phase transformation increases the energy absorbed by the NiTi to produce the austenitic to R-phase and to produce the martensitic transformation causing the increase in the fracture cycles. Mechanical cycling leads to significant increases in the transformation temperatures Ms and Af as well as Rs and Rf. No changes in the transformation temperatures were observed for aging at 300 °C, but the appearance of Ni4Ti3 precipitates was observed in the aging treatments to the Nickel-rich files that correspond to those with the R transition. These results should be considered by endodontists to optimize the type of files for clinical therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthodontic Materials: Properties and Effectiveness of Use)
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11 pages, 6782 KiB  
Article
Effect of the Height of a 3D-Printed Model on the Force Transmission and Thickness of Thermoformed Orthodontic Aligners
by Omar Ghoraba, Christoph Bourauel, Mostafa Aldesoki, Lamia Singer, Ahmed M. Ismail, Hanaa Elattar, Abdulaziz Alhotan and Tarek M. Elshazly
Materials 2024, 17(12), 3019; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17123019 - 20 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1135
Abstract
This research aims to investigate the influence of model height employed in the deep drawing of orthodontic aligner sheets on force transmission and aligner thickness. Forty aligner sheets (Zendura FLX) were thermoformed over four models of varying heights (15, 20, 25, and 30 [...] Read more.
This research aims to investigate the influence of model height employed in the deep drawing of orthodontic aligner sheets on force transmission and aligner thickness. Forty aligner sheets (Zendura FLX) were thermoformed over four models of varying heights (15, 20, 25, and 30 mm). Normal contact force generated on the facial surface of the upper right central incisor (Tooth 11) was measured using pressure-sensitive films. Aligner thickness around Tooth 11 was measured at five points. A digital caliper and a micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) were employed for thickness measurements. The normal contact force exhibited an uneven distribution across the facial surface of Tooth 11. Model 15 displayed the highest force (88.9 ± 23.2 N), while Model 30 exhibited the lowest (45.7 ± 15.8 N). The force distribution was more favorable for bodily movement with Model 15. Thickness measurements revealed substantial thinning of the aligner after thermoforming. This thinning was most pronounced at the incisal edge (50% of the original thickness) and least at the gingivo-facial part (85%). Additionally, there was a progressive reduction in aligner thickness with increasing model height, which was most significant on the facial tooth surfaces. We conclude that the thermoplastic aligner sheets undergo substantial thinning during the thermoforming process, which becomes more pronounced as the height of the model increases. As a result, there is a decrease in both overall and localized force transmission, which could lead to increased tipping by the aligner and a diminished ability to achieve bodily movement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthodontic Materials: Properties and Effectiveness of Use)
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