To evaluate and compare surface characteristics of different aesthetic nickel-titanium archwires using surface profilometry, sem and stereomicroscopy: A multi-arm split-mouth randomized controlled trial

Abstract

This multi-arm split-mouth randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the surface characteristics, coating thickness and coating stability of four different aesthetic coated Nickel-Titanium Orthodontic rectangular archwires before and after oral exposure. To evaluate and compare the surface characteristics of four as-received (Control group) aesthetic nickel-titanium orthodontic rectangular archwires (0.016 x 0.022ʺ NiTi) from different manufacturers that are BioForce (Group I), Rabbit force (Group II), Libral (Group III), and ORMCO (Group IV) and after oral exposure (Experimental group) of four weeks, 15 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited for this prospective study. Scanning electron microscopy, stereomicroscopy, and 3D profilometry were done for evaluating the surface characteristics of each group of wires.Four quadrants of every patient were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to the wires of either BioForce (Group I), Rabbit force (Group II), Libral (Group III), or ORMCO (Group IV). On examination of as-received wires (control group), the maximum coating thickness was seen in Group III c (Teflon coated, Libral), followed by Group IIc (Epoxy coated, Rabbit Force), then Group Ic (Teflon coated, BioForce), and least in Group IVc (Epoxy coated, ORMCO). After 4 weeks of oral exposure, the maximum coating loss was seen in Group II (Rabbit Force) wire, and the least amount of coating loss was seen in Group IV (ORMCO).The results of this study indicated a low aesthetic value of each of the manufacturer’s coated archwires because they presented a non-durable coating after oral exposure.