OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the friction forces on brackets (Roth, Composite, 10.17.005, 3.2 mm, width 0.022" x 0.030 ", Torque -2° and angulation +13°, Morelli®, Brazil), with stainless steel orthodontic rectangular wire (Morelli®, Brazil) and nickel titanium superelastic Bioforce wires with and without IonGuard (Bioforce, GAC®, USA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four brackets/wire segment combinations were used, distributed into three groups according to the orthodontic wire. Each bracket/wire segment combination was tested three times. The tests were performed in a universal testing machine Emic DL2000®. The data was submitted to ANOVA one way followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The rectangular orthodontic Bioforce wire with IonGuard presented significantly lower resistance to sliding than Bioforce without IonGuard. There was no statistical difference among the other groups. However, the coefficient of variation of Bioforce with and without IonGuard was lower than that of the stainless steel wire. CONCLUSION: The rectangular orthodontic Bioforce wire with IonGuard presented lower resistance to sliding than Bioforce without IonGuard, with no difference to the stainless steel wire.
Orthodontic appliance design; Friction; Orthodontic wires
