Joining characteristics of titanium-based orthodontic wires connected by laser and electrical welding methods

Comparison between traditional and alternative biocompatible welding techniques used in orthodontic devices

OBJECTIVE

To compare the mechanical strength of joints made by conventional soldering with those made by alternative, more biocompatible, methods (spot, tungsten inert gas [TIG] and laser welding), and to compare the microstructural morphology of wires welded with these techniques.

DESIGN

In vitro, laboratory study.

METHODS

Forty stainless-steel wire segments with 0.8-mm diameter were joined by silver soldering, spot, laser and TIG welding. Ten specimens were produced for each one. Tensile strength test was performed 24 h after welding on the Emic DL2000™ universal testing machine, using a load cell of 1000 N with a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min.

RESULTS

The highest tensile strength mean values were obtained with silver soldering (532 N), next were laser (420 N), spot (301 N) and TIG (296 N) welding. Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups; the Dunn post-hoc test revealed differences between laser and spot welding (p=0.046), laser and TIG (p = 0.016), spot and silver (p <0.001), and silver and TIG (p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Laser welding strength is high, and comparable to silver welding. Spot and TIG techniques present comparable and significantly lower strengths. The four methods presented resistance values compatible with orthodontic use. The microstructural morphology is different for each technique. The association between the mechanical performance and the microstructure evaluation shows that laser presented the highest quality joint.

The effect of annealing temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar laser welded superelastic NiTi to austenitic stainless steels orthodontic archwires

Annealing after welding is a common operational process to improve the mechanical properties of metallic joints through releasing residual stresses in the weld zone. In this study, the effect of post weld annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar laser-welds for orthodontic archwires of NiTi alloy to austenitic stainless steel has been investigated. In order to do this, the laser-welded wires were annealed at temperatures of 100, 200, and 300 °C for 1 h and then they were quenched in water. Results show that annealing at 100 °C does not affect the microstructure and mechanical properties of joints but post weld heat treatment at 200 °C ends in an increase in the tensile strength to an order of 1.91 times of the strength of as welded (non-heat-treated) joints. Also, precipitation and increase of intermetallic compounds, such as Cr₂Ti, and Fe₂Ti, at the weld zone during heat treatment at 300 °C, results in a reduction in the mechanical properties of joints. Therefore, post-weld annealing is an effective process on improving mechanical properties of dissimilar joints of these two alloys. However, a suitable heat-treatment temperature is needed in order to achieve desired results.

Welding strength of NiTi wires

Objective:

To identify the appropriate power level for electric welding of three commercial brands of nickel-titanium (NiTi) wires.

Methods:

Ninety pairs of 0.018-in and 0.017 × 0.025-in NiTi wires were divided into three groups according to their manufacturers - GI (Orthometric, Marília, Brazil), GII (3M OralCare, St. Paul, CA) and GIII (GAC,York, PA) - and welded by electrical resistance. Each group was divided into subgroups of 5 pairs of wires, in which welding was done with different power levels. In GI and GII, power levels of 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5 were used, while in GIII 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 were used (each unit of power of the welding machine representing 500W). The pairs of welded wires underwent a tensile strength test on an universal testing machine until rupture and the maximum forces were recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests were conducted to determine which subgroup within each brand group had the greatest resistance to rupture.

Results:

The 2.5 power exhibited the lowest resistance to rupture in all groups (43.75N for GI, 28.41N for GII and 47.57N for GIII) while the 4.0 power provided the highest resistance in GI and GII (97.90N and 99.61N, respectively), while in GIII (79.28N) the highest resistance was achieved with a 3.5 power welding.

Conclusions:

The most appropriate power for welding varied for each brand, being 4.0 for Orthometric and 3M, and 3.5 for GAC NiTi wires.

Review of Superelastic Differential Force Archwires for Producing Ideal Orthodontic Forces: an Advanced Technology Potentially Applicable to Orthognathic Surgery and Orthopedics

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gentle and continuous loads are preferred for optimum orthodontic tooth movement. Nitinol, an alloy of nickel and titanium developed for the aerospace industry, found its first clinical applications in orthodontics because it has ideal load-deflection behavior. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the criteria for effective orthodontic mechanics relative to emerging Nitinol technology. The specialized materials with variable stiffness that were originally developed for orthodontics are increasingly attractive for in the temporomandibular joint, orthognathic surgery, and orthopedics.

RECENT FINDINGS

The evolution of orthodontic archwires is driven by a need to achieve low load-deflection characteristics and Nitinol is the alloy of choice. Scientific knowledge of the biological response to orthodontic forces continues to grow, but definitive guidance on optimal force levels for individual teeth is elusive. Finite element models (FEM) that take into account periodontal ligament (PDL) stresses indicate differential force archwires are needed to realize optimal treatment. However, previous wire fabrication methods, including welding of different materials and selective resistive heating, are limited by poor mechanical performance and spatial resolution. Recently, a novel laser processing technique was developed for precisely programing relative levels of stiffness in a single archwire. FEM was used to estimate the optimal force for each tooth by calculating the 3D bone-PDL surface area. There remains a general consensus that light and continuous forces are desirable for orthodontic treatment. New developments in archwire materials and technology have provided the orthodontist with a complete spectrum of load-deflection rates and differential force options to express these forces with maximized archwire economy. These technologies also appear to have application to orthopedic implant devices.

From prevention of pin-tract infection to treatment of osteomyelitis during paediatric external fixation

Pin-tract infection (PTI) is the most commonly expected problem, or even an almost inevitable complication, when using external fixation. Left unteated, PTI will progress unavoidably, lead to mechanical pin loosening, and ultimately cause instability of the external fixator pin-bone construct. Thus, PTI remains a clinical challenge, specifically in cases of limb lengthening or deformity correction. Standardised pin site protocols which encompass an understanding of external fixator biomechanics and meticulous surgical technique during pin and wire insertion, postoperative pin site care and pin removal could limit the incidence of major infections and treatment failures. Here we discuss concepts regarding the epidemiology, physiopathology and microbiology of PTI in paediatric populations, as well as the clinical presentations, diagnosis, classification and treatment of these infections.