Effect of horizontal slot of maxillary canines’ brackets with varying wire angulations - An in vitro study

A new device was developed to enable the visualization and measurement of canine angulation while at the same time visualizing and measuring the force transmitted to adjacent teeth. This study aimed to evaluate the mesiodistal tilt angle of the upper canine brackets, the wire deflection, and its effects on adjacent teeth with five different slot designs of upper canines. Wires (0.020” and 0.019” x 0.025”) were tested on different five bracket types at five different distal angles. The force applied to adjacent teeth was measured as the angle was increased, and its consequences were observed in the posterior and anterior regions as well. The force tension (gf) was measured in a universal testing machine. Data were submitted to a 3-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α=0.05). For both arches, regardless of the type of tooth and bracket type, the highest means tension mean values were shown by the 20° angle, followed by the 15°,10°, and 5° angles, which differed statistically among themselves. Overall, for 5°, 10°, and 15° angles, conventional and versatile brackets showed significantly higher force values in all teeth, tip-edge and control brackets showed the lowest. The highest force values were observed in central and lateral incisors with conventional and versatile brackets and on first and second premolar teeth with self-ligating passive and control brackets. Conventional brackets presented the highest forces, tip-edge and control brackets showed the lowest. The teeth that suffered the greatest forces were lateral incisors, and those that suffered the least were second premolars.