ANALYSIS OF “BEST FIT” OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ARCHWIRES WITH MANDIBULAR ARCH FORM

Abstract

Aim of the present study was to analyse which archwire fits best to the mandibular arch form among different commercially available archwires. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Orthodontic department of Margalla Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS) Rawalpindi from March 2017 to October 2017.

The study included pre-treatment mandibular casts of 100 patients (72 females, 28 males) with mean age of 151.8 years, having permanent dentition at least up to 2nd molars. Seven types of preformed heavy stainless steel archwires from 3 different manufacturers were scanned and archwire templates were made on transparency sheet. These archwire templates were then placed over mandibular casts. Archwire that corresponded to the patients mandibular arch form more closely and touched the maximum number of teeth was termed as best fit.

Preformed archwires that corresponded to mandibular arch form more closely were Ortho Organizers Oval Arch Form (34%) and Standard Form (27%). 3M Unitek Ortho Form I (tapered) was found best fit in 15% of the patients. Archwire having lowest frequency (2%) as best fit was 3M Unitek Ortho Form II (square).

It was concluded that among different commercially available archwires in Pakistan, Ortho Organizers archwires (Oval Arch Form and Standard Form) were found best fit to the mandibular arch form in majority of the patients.