Comparative study of torque expression and its biomechanical effects: spherical self-ligating bracket with lock-hook system versus passive self-ligating bracket and conventional bracket.

Background: Proper torque control is crucial to the outcome of orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to employ finite element analysis to compare the torque capabilities of a novel spherical self-ligating bracket with a lock-hook system against those of commonly used passive self-ligating and conventional bracket systems, as well as to reveal the biomechanical changes in the periodontal ligament (PDL) during torque expression.

Methods: A maxillary right central incisor, along with its PDL and alveolar bone, were modeled.

[Design of nonlinear locking mechanism for shape memory alloy archwire of miniature orthodontic device].

The locking mechanism between bracket and shape memory alloy (SMA) archwire in the newly developed domestic orthodontic device is the key to controlling the precise alignment of the teeth. To meet the demand of locking force in clinical treatment, the tightening torque angle of the locking bolt and the required torque magnitude need to be precisely designed. For this purpose, a design study of the locking mechanism is carried out to analyze the correspondence between the tightening torque angle and the locking force and to determine the effective torque value, which involves complex coupling of contact, material and geometric nonlinear characteristics.

[Study on quantitative analysis of bracket-induced nonlinear response of labio-cheek soft tissue during the orthodontic process].

In the orthodontics process, intervention and sliding of an orthodontic bracket during the orthodontic process can arise large response of the labio-cheek soft tissue. Soft tissue damage and ulcers frequently happen at the early stage of orthodontic treatment. In the field of orthodontic medicine, qualitative analysis is always carried out through statistics of clinical cases, while quantitative explanation of bio-mechanical mechanism is lacking.