Affiliations: [a] Sino-German Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing, Ningbo Polytechnic, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China | [b] College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China | [c] Key Laboratory of Special Purpose Equipment and Advanced Processing Technology, Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China | [d] Department of Stomotology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China | [e] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA | [f] Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China | [g] Seal R&D Department, Jianxin Zhao Group Co., Ltd, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Yunfeng Liu, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Tel.: +86 571 88320931; Fax: +86 571 88320931; E-mail: liuyf76@126.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Orthodontic force is often statically measured in general, and only the initial force derived from appliances can be assessed. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate a technological method for measuring dynamic force using tooth movement simulation. METHODS: Tooth movement was simulated in a softened wax model. A canine tooth was selected for evaluation and divided into the crown and root. A force transducer was plugged in and fixed between the two parts for measuring force. Forces on this tooth were derived by ordinary nickel–titanium (Ni–Ti) wire, hyperelastic Ni–Ti wire, low-hysteresis (LH) Ti–Ni wire and self-made glass fibre-reinforced shape memory polyurethane (GFRSMPU) wire. These forces were measured after the tooth movement. RESULTS: The canine tooth moved to the desired location, and only a 0.2 mm deviation remained. The changing trends and magnitudes of forces produced by the wires were consistent with the data reported by other studies. The tooth had a higher moving velocity with ordinary Ni–Ti wires in comparison to the other wires. Force attenuation for the GFRSMPU wire was the lowest (40.17%) at the end of the test, indicating that it provided light but continuous force. CONCLUSIONS: Mimicked tooth movements and dynamic force measurements were successfully determined in tooth movement simulation. These findings could help with estimating treatment effects and optimising the treatment plan.
Keywords: Dynamic measurement, orthodontic force, tooth moveable simulation, wax model
