Effect of Sodium Flouride Mouthwash and Ozone-Infused Oil Pulling Solution With Coconut Oil on Mechanical Properties and Surface Characterization of Copper-Nickel-Titanium Orthodontic Archwires

Aims and objectives: To determine the impact on the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of prefabricated 0.016" copper-nickel-titanium (Cu-Ni-Ti) type 35(o)C (Ormco Company, USA) archwires when subjected to 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) mouthwash (ACT Anti-Cavity Fluoride Mouthwash, Sanofi Company, USA) and ozone-infused oil-pulling solution with coconut oil (O(3)) (O(3) Essentials, Health Ranger Store, USA). Materials and methods: Sixty samples of preformed maxillary 0.016” Cu-Ni-Ti archwires were cut at the straight posterior ends for a length of 25 mm and then equally distributed into three groups (n=20). Each group of wires was immersed in distilled water (dH(2)O), NaF, and O(3) solutions for 90 minutes at 37(o)C. All samples were taken out of their solutions and washed with distilled water prior to testing. On a universal testing device, a three-point bending test was performed on 15 samples. Yield strength (YS), flexural modulus of elasticity (E), and springback ratio (YS/E) were calculated. The remaining five samples from respective solutions were observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for surface topography evaluation. Results: The mean differences in loading YS, E, and YS/E between NaF and O(3) are 41.14 MPa, 4.58 GPa, and -0.0006 whereas unloading values are 23.45 MPa, 4.38 GPa, and -0.0004, respectively with a statistical significance of <0.001. Surface topography alteration was appreciated in the NaF mouthwash group compared to the O(3) solution. Conclusions: The mechanical properties of 0.016" Cu-Ni-Ti archwires during loading and unloading were changed after exposure to NaF mouthwash and O(3) solution. The mechanical properties of Cu-Ni-Ti archwires were more negatively affected by NaF mouthwash than by O(3) solution. Sodium fluoride mouthwash offers more corrosive changes when compared with the O(3) solution.