Ultrastructural effect of self-ligating bracket materials on stainless steel and superelastic NiTi wire surfaces

Frictional interactions between wires and brackets reduce the efficacy in orthodontic treatments. Self-ligating brackets (SLBs) are now more often used due to lower frictional forces when compared with conventional-ligating brackets. In this study, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to examine the microstructural effects of stainless steel and ceramic SLBs on the surface roughness of stainless steel and superelastic NiTi wires both after in vivo clinical orthodontic treatment as well as in in vitro three-point bending experiments. A combination of two wires-0.019 in. × 0.025 in. stainless steel wires and 0.016 in. superelastic NiTi wires-and two SLBs-both passive-type stainless steel SLBs and active-type ceramic SLBs-was applied for 4 months (bicuspid-extraction) in an in vivo setting and for 1 month in an in vitro setting (200 g loads). After the SLB treatments, all wires exhibited severe scratches secondary to frictional interactions with the brackets. When used with the stainless steel SLBs (Damon 3MX®), the surfaces of 0.019 in. × 0.025 in. stainless steel (P < 0.0001) and 0.016 in. superelastic NiTi wires (P < 0.05) were significantly smoother than when used with the ceramic SLBs (Clippy-C®). Such results suggest that orthodontic treatments with stainless steel SLBs are more effective than with ceramic SLBs.