Creative wire bending-The force system from step

and V bends
Charles J. Burstone, D.D.S., MS., and Herbert A. Koenig, Ph.Di
Farmington, Corm.

The force system produced by wires with steps and V bends was s’udied analytically by means of a
small deflection mathematic analysis. Characteristic force relations ips were found in both the
step and the V bend. Step bands centrally placed between adjacen brackets produce unidirectional
couples that are equal in magnitude. Along with these couples, ve ical or horizontal forces are
produced depending upon the plane of activation. Mesiodistal place ent of step bends is not critical
because very little alteration in force system occurs if a step is cent!i red or positioned off center.
V bends, on the other hand, are very sensitive to the positioning mesiodistally of the apex of the V. If
the apex of the V bend is placed on center, equal and opposite couples are produced. As the
V-bend apex is moved off center, predictable combinations of moments and forces are created. A
method for determination of the relative force system is described that allows for simple interpretation
and prediction of the force system from a V bend. The clinical applications of these data and a
rational basis for wire bending are presented based on the producing of a desired force system.
(AM J ORTHOO DENTOFAC ORTHOP 1988;93:59-67.)

In a previous study, the force systems pro-

duced by a straight wire in malaligned brackets were
deflection rates that require overbending beyond the
position of “an ideal arch” to build up to more optimum
determined. ’ It was found that a predictable ratio of the force values for tooth movement; and (4) certain types
moments produced between two adjacent brackets re- of specialized tooth movement, such as space closure,
mained constant regardless of interbracket distance or tipback mechanics, intrusion, and root movement, re-
the cross section of the wire used if the angles of the quire appropriate wire bending.
bracket remained constant to the interbracket axis. On There are two approaches to the placement of bends
the basis of this work, a classification of bracket-wire in an arch wire. One could be described as the “ideal”
geometries was established that can serve as a guide to shape-driven approach. The orthodontist forms a wire
the force systems that would be expected from a straight to the shape in which the desired occlusion would be
wire appliance. if all of the brackets were to finally align themselves
Although in recent years there has been a trend away on the wire. This is the “ideal” arch concept. As has
from placing bends in wires by building more activation been previously shown, the “ideal” shape-driven ap-
with bracket position and design, there is no question proach to bending an orthodontic appliance can lead to
that comprehensive orthodontic treatment requires the undesirable side effects and may not operate in a manner
placement of bends in wires. Bends are placed for a predicted by a superficial reading of the relationship of
number of reasons-for example, (1) to correct tooth a wire to a bracket.’ Even if eventually the teeth will
position if a discrepancy or error is present in bracket align themselves on a straight wire (which may require
position; (2) as teeth approach their final position of increasing the stiffness of the wire by replacement with
alignment, it may be necessary to increase the mag- wires of a larger cross section), the overall orientation
nitude of force, which can be accomplished by replac- of the teeth in space may not be what is desired; fur-
ing the original wire with a wire of a larger cross section thermore, during this process of alignment, teeth do
or by using the original wire and placing an exaggerated not move to the final straight wire position but undergo
bend; (3) wires may be selected with very low load- extraneous and undesirable movements because of the
intervening force systems produced. A more rational
approach to the bending of a wire is to make bends that
From the University of Connecticut Health Center deliver the required force system to produce wanted
Supported by NIHiNIDR Grant DE-03953. tooth movement. Although there is still much to be
59
60 But-stone and Koenig

STEP BEND FORCE SYSTEM

M,
n
F,
!

Bracket 1

Fig. 1. Forces (F) and moments (M) produced by a step in a

wire. Ail forces are acting on the wire. The forces to the teeth
O/L
are equal and opposite (not shown).
Fig. 3. Moments at bracket 1 and bracket 2 produced by a wire
step. As the a/L ratio is changed, moments remain the same.
A small negligible reduction in M, occurs if the bend is placed
very close to bracket 1.

two aligned brackets with interbracket distances of

7 mm and 14 mm. Two sets of bends were studied-
steps and V bends. As measured from the levels of the
brackets vertically, the step and V bends were made so
100 ,- that their height was 0.35 mm (A). The position of the
; -----------A-
F 14
step or the V bend was changed mesiodistally so as to
0;
I
ILL
2 3 4
_ L-
5
-.~-----.-~_ --_-.
O/L
-
alter an a/L ratio (a = distance from V bend apex to
bracket; L = interbracket distance). This ratio mea-
Fig. 2. Forces at bracket 1 and bracket 2 produced by a wire sured the centering or lack of centering of the bend
step. As the a/L ratio (mesiodistal position of the step) is within the interbracket distance. The step and V bend
changed, the forces remain relatively constant.
relationships are shown in Figs. 1 and 6, respectively.
At each bracket the moments (M) and the forces (F)
were calculated. In addition, the ratio between the
learned concerning an optimum force system, partic- moment produced at bracket 2 in comparison with
ularly in respect to the magnitude of moments and bracket 1 was determined.
forces and moment to force ratios, it is important that The solutions were carried out by means of an an-
the clinician make the bends so that at least the moments alytic model based upon small deflection theory. Large
and forces are in a correct direction. mesiodistal forces would be anticipated as deffections
It is the thrust of this article to look at what might become great if wires are not free to slide in brackets.
be called creative wire bending-not the ability to ma- In previous work it has been shown that if wires are
nipulate wire and pliers, but how a wire should be bent free to slide in brackets, the small deflection theory
to produce a desired force system. An infinite number approximation is quite good for predicting force sys-
of shapes or bends can be placed between two brackets. tems in which overall deflections are relatively small,
We will consider here only two commonly used basic such as in these applications.* It should be remembered
bends-the step and the V bend. The force systems that in this type of solution, we are purposely ignoring
from these two types of bends will be studied, funda- mesiodistal forces that could be present clinically so
mental principles will be elicited, and the clinical ap- that the fundamental relationships can be more easily
plications shown. studied. Differences in boundary conditions from those
assumed in the study could lead to differences in both
METHOD the relative and absolute force systems.
The wires used in this study were 0.016-inch stain The method used in this work to effect the analytic
less steel wires* with bends; they were placed between simulation of an activated wire is known as the transfer
matrix method.
*E = 0.2111104 x l@ g/mm’; M,,, -= 1,860 g-mm The beam (or wire) is initially divided into separate
Volume 93
Creative wire bending 61
Number 1

e.
347 gm 347 gm
1210 1210
gm-mm gm-mm
31 I lc>

(t---------7 mm-1 1

Fig. 5. A, Force system produced by O.OlSinch stainless wire

A ( MM 1
with 0.35mm step, 7-mm interbracket distance. Note large
Fig. 4. As step height (A) is increased, a linear relationship with magnitude of forces and moments. All forces and moments are
the moment occurs. acting on the wire. B, Same force systems shown in A except
directions of forces and moments have been reversed to show
the force system acting on the teeth.

geometric points along its length known as nodal points.

The elastic beam relationships that exist between these
nodes are stated in mathematic form and are related to
each other.3.4 These relationships are known as transfer
matrices. The wire is then constructed mathematically
by superimposing these relationships until the force and
deflection system at one end of the wire is directly
related to the force and deflection system at the other
end. The boundary conditions, which relate the forces
and the activations at the termini of the wire, are then
applied.
The solution occurs upon the inversion of a system
matrix. Thus, the unknown activations and forces are
calculated. The forces and the activations along the
length of the entire wire are then calculated by means Fig. 6. Forces at bracket 1 and bracket 2 produced by V bend.
of the previously developed transfer matrices. As the V is placed off center, vertical forces increase. P and
Ff4 denote 7-mm and 14-mm interbracket distances.
RESULTS
Step bends
In a second-order direction, a step in a wire between and moment. For all practical purposes then, the shift-
two brackets produces equal and opposite vertical ing of the step mesiodistally does not alter the abso-
forces, and unidirectional couples whose moments are lute or relative force system. Furthermore, the ratio
equal in magnitude (Fig. 1). Since the moments are in M,/M, = 1 is independent of the interbracket distance.
the same direction and of equal magnitude, the ratio is When the height of the step is modified to reduce the
M,/M, = 1. This ratio defines the relative force system deflection, a linear relationship of the moments is found
from a step in a wire that is identical to the Class I ratio (Fig. 4). This means that with smaller or larger steps,
of MJM, found with a straight wire with parallel and the relationship M,/M, = 1 remains constant.
stepped brackets.’ If a/L is plotted against both force The actual moments and forces over a typical
and moment, it can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3 that for a 7-mm interbracket distance in an edgewise appliance
14-mm interbracket distance, there is approximately no using even a small 0.016-inch wire are very large:
change in the magnitude of the force or the moment 347 g vertical force with 1210 g-mm moment (Fig. 5).
when the mesiodistal position of the step is changed. It is obvious that both forces and moments are required
Basically, this is true of a 7-mm interbracket dis- for wire equilibrium; although the orthodontist may
tance, although in this situation as the step approaches want either the force or the moment alone, he must
bracket 1, there is a very slight lowering in both force accept both.
62 Burstone und Koenig

Table I. Force systems from step and V bends

_-----.-- --.-_I
---------T-- -‘-
<i’L* : W,:‘M; i Yertrd 10.r hrl:omoij fh7c.i

“a = Distance from V-bend apex to bracket; 1, -= lnterbracker

distance.

Fig. 7. Moments at bracket 1 and bracket 2 produced by a

V bend. Crossover of a 0 g-mm at MZ occurs when bend is
placed one third the distance between the brackets. Each a/L ment at bracket 1 becomes one third the moment at
ratio gives a different M,/M, ratio. bracket 2 and both moments are in the same direction.
These fundamental relationships hold true regardless of
the interbracket distance. For example, in Fig. 7, the
point of zero moment crossover for both 7-mm and
The ratio M/F at each bracket is a measure of the 14-mm interbracket distances is at a/L = 0.33. A sum-
relative amount of force and moment acting at each mary of the relationship of a/L in respect to M,/M, is
tooth. The M/F ratio is not a constant for a stepped given in Table I. Note the orderly progression of the
wire because it is dependent upon the interbracket dis- M,/M, ratio as the V bend moves from a centered po-
tance. The larger the interbracket distance, the greater sition to an off-center position as measured by the a/L
M/F ratio. The significance of this ratio is that for any ratio.
given magnitude of vertical force (in a second-order As the a/L ratio changes, so does the magnitude of
direction), the corresponding moments that would act the force (Fig. 6). When the V bend is centered, equal
would be greater with increasing interbracket distances. and opposite couples are produced and hence there is
For example, if the interbracket distance is doubled no vertical force. As the V bend is moved toward
from 7 mm to 14 mm, the force for a 0.35-mm step is bracket 1, the force increases in a nonlinear manner.
reduced to 43 g. The M/F ratio for the 7-mm span With a smaller interbracket distance in comparison
(1210 g-mm) is 3.5 to 1. However, for the 14-mm span, to a larger one, greater force for the same magnitude
the M/F ratio is 7.0 (301 g-mm/43 g). The M/F ratio of moments is required. As in a step bend, the M/F
is thus proportional to the interbracket distance. ratio on both brackets increases linearly with inter-
bracket distance.
V bends Fig. 8 shows the absolute force system that would
Unlike a step, a V bend placed between two brackets be present for three a/L ratios. In all three activations,
radically alters the force system, depending upon the the V bend has been made so that the height of the apex
mesiodistal placement of the apex of the V (Figs. 6 in respect to a line connecting the brackets is 0.35 mm
and 7). A convenient measure of the mesiodistal place- with an interbracket distance of 7 mm. In Fig. 8, A,
ment is the ratio a/L. When the apex of the V bend is where the V bend is centered, equal and opposite cou-
centered (a/L = 0.5), the moments at each bracket ples of 803 g-mm are produced. If the yield moment
M,IM, are equal and opposite in direction. As the apex were 1860 g-mm, the maximal height of the bend pos-
is moved to the left toward bracket 1, the ratio MJM, sible without permanent deformation would be only
will change. If a/L is 0.4, M,/M, becomes -0.3, The 0.8 mm. In Fig. 8, B, the V bend is moved off center
moments at the two brackets are unequal, with the mo- with an a/L = 0.29. The lack of centering produces a
ment farthest away from the V-bend apex being one very large moment, 2210 g-mm at M, and a smaller
third the magnitude of the other moment. If one con- moment in the same direction, 272 g-mm at M,. Very
tinues to move the V bend farther toward bracket 1 so large vertical forces are also produced with magnitudes
that a/L = 0.33, then no moment whatsoever is found of 353 g. If the V bend is placed even farther off center
at bracket 2, only a single force. Finally, if the V bend as in Fig. 7, C. the moment at M, becomes exceedingly
is moved farther toward M, (a/L = 0.2), the mo- large (4840 g-mm). There is also an increase in the
Volume 93
Creative wire bending 63
Number 1

Table II. MJM, ratios for V bends as a function “V” BEND FORCE SYSTEMS
of apex position from bracket 1
V-bend apex posirion (mm)

7 mm IBD* I4 mm IBD* MJM,

Bracket 1
0.7 1.4 0.4
1.4 2.8 0.3
2.3 4.6 0.0 ‘C.
2.8 5.6 -0.3
4840 1720
3.5 7.0 - 1.0 gm-mm gm-mm
Bracket 2 _
1

*IBD = Interbracket distance. Fig. 8. Force systems from three a/L ratios. Interbracket dis-
tance is 7 mm; height of V bend is 0.35 mm. A, Centered
V a/L = 0.5; equal and opposite couples. B, a/L = 0.29; a
larger moment exists at M,. C, a/L = 0.14; forces and moments
are much greater than in A and 8. In 6 and C, the wire would
magnitude of the moment at M2 to 1720 g-mm. The permanently deform.
vertical forces become 937 g. The large moments pro-
duced at M, in Fig. 8, B and C, could lead to permanent
deformation of the wire. If one assumed a maximum
moment at yield for the wire at 1860 g-mm, permanent
deformation would occur at the point on the wire near
bracket 1 since moments considerably more than 1860
g-mm are produced. When that happens, not only is
there less force and moment but the entire wire bracket
geometry changes, giving an entirely different M,/M,
ratio and therefore a different type of tooth movement.
If the height of the apex of the V bend is increased
or decreased, the relative force system M,/M, does not
change. Fig. 9 shows the linear relationship between
the height of the V bend and the moments produced.
It should be remembered that if the height of the
V bend becomes too great, (1) activations would be Fig. 9. A linear relationship is shown between V-bend height
beyond the yield strength of the wire and permanent (A) and M, and M, with varying a/L ratios.
deformation would occur, and (2) these relationships
are only true within the elastic limit.
Table II gives the actual positioning of the V bend
in respect to bracket 1 in millimeters for both 7-mm the positioning of the V bend mesiodistally would not
and 14-mm interbracket distances. The high sensitivity so significantly change the relative force system.
of placing the apex of the V in short interbracket dis-
tances becomes evident. For a 7-mm interbracket dis- CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
tance, as would be expected, equal and opposite couples The present study leads to important clinical appli-
would be produced if the bend is placed 3.5 mm to the cations in the use of two fundamental bends, a step and
right of M,. If the bend is placed at 2.3 mm, the force a V bend. Although the exact magnitudes of the forces
system is radically changed so the moment at M, is and moments are significant and will become increas-
completely eliminated. The difference in positioning ingly important as orthodontic appliances become more
between these two force systems is only 1.2 mm. Fur- sophisticated, it is the relative force system that cur-
thermore, if the bend is moved only an additional rently is the most relevant. Even if the forces are not
0.9 mm toward M,, a moment will be produced at M, the exact magnitudes the orthodontist wishes or if the
in the opposite direction-one third of the moment at M/F ratios of a given tooth do not approach what we
M,. With a larger interbracket distance of 14 mm, con- estimate would be the optimum, at a basic minimum it
siderably more leeway is present and small errors in is necessary that the moments and forces at least be in
64 Burstone and Koenig

Ffg. 11. Mesiodistal position of V bends placed between canine

Fig. 10. Mesiodistal placement of V bend between molars and and molar alters force system on the molars. A, Lingual force
incisor has a large effect on the force system. A, Bend at only. B, A pure moment (couple) on the molar producing me-
a/L = 0.33 (a: measured from the molar tube; the incisor re- siobuccal rotation; no lateral forces. C, Moment producing me-
ceives only an intrusive force). B, Bend centered at a/L = 0.5. siobuccal rotation. Buccal force is on the molar. All forces are
Incisors and molars are acted on by equal and opposite couples. shown acting on the teeth.
If the arch is tied back, incisor root movement would occur.
C, Bend placed anteriorly, a/L = 0.66. Lingual root torque and
an eruptive force are acting on the incisors. All forces are shown Let us place a V bend in a continuous arch with the
acting on the teeth. apex of the V one third the distance from the molar
tube to the incisor brackets (a/L = 0.33). A single
intrusive force is produced on the incisor and on the
the correct direction, In this section on clinical appli- molar both an eruptive force and a moment tending to
cations, we will address the relative force systems. move the roots forward and the crowns back. This could
Since the relative magnitude of these forces and mo- lead to incisor intrusion, molar tipback, and, if the arch
ments will be emphasized, no force magnitudes will be wire is tied back, possible retraction of the upper in-
used in the diagrams. (Unlike previous equilibrium di- cisors (Fig. 10, A). If we decide to place our V bend
agrams in the RESULTS section, the forces and moments even farther posteriorly, perhaps next to the molar tube,
are shown acting on the teeth.) the force system will change. This configuration would
Fig. 10 shows a lateral view of an arch in which produce a moment on the central incisor tending to
attachments have been placed only on the first molar move the crown back and the root forward (labial root
and the four incisors. We are taking some liberties with torque). This moment produced on the central incisor
the actual clinical situation, which might be more com- could be useful in preventing flaring of the upper incisor
plicated since the arch curves around the corner and during intrusion; however, in other situations it could
there may be friction and/or play between the attach- be an undesirable side effect, moving the root labially.
ments and the wire. Here we assume (1) forces acting When the V bend is placed off center posteriorly so that
in one plane, (2) full-bracket engagement from a rec- a/L is smaller than 0.33, the more the bend is increased,
tangular wire, and (3) freedom to slide, eliminating both the intrusive force and the labial root moment on
mesiodistal forces. the incisor will increase. If we place the V bend
Volume 93
Creative wire bending 65
Number I

one third of the distance from the molar tube to the ESTHETIC BENDS - UPPER INCISORS
bracket, we reach that crossover point where the mo-
ment is eliminated and any increased activation pro-
duces greater force without concern for spurious torque I I

on the incisors.
In Fig. 10, B, the V bend is now placed in the center A.
I n n 1
between the molar tube and the bracket; equal and op-
posite couples are produced. If the arch wire were tied
back so anteroposterior forces were created, this wire
could be used to move the roots lingually on the upper
incisors. The roots would also move mesially on the
molar, but this could be prevented by increasing the
number of teeth in the posterior segment or backing up Fig. 12. Forces produced by anterior esthetic bends to move
the posterior teeth with suitable headgear. roots distally. A, V bend between central incisors gives equal
Fig. 10, C, shows the V bend now positioned closer and opposite couples. B, Step bends between central and lat-
to the central incisor bracket (a/L = 0.66 from the eral incisors give vertical forces and unidirectional couples. C,
Summation of A and B. Moments are in correct direction for
molar). The force system completely changes; instead root movement but are not equal. Vertical forces will erupt the
of an intrusive force as in Fig. 10, A, there is now an central incisors. All forces are shown acting on the teeth.
eruptive force on the central incisor with lingual root
torque. An intrusive force on the molar is also seen.
By moving the V bend forward, we have a root spring In the above two examples of force systems, one
for the incisors, provided the wire is tied back to prevent can see the principle of creative wire bending at work.
anterior flaring of the incisors. The eruptive force si- The older, traditional approach in orthodontic treatment
multaneously extrudes the incisors. has been an “ideal” shape-drive appliance. The
From an occlusal view, Fig. 11 shows the effects “ideal” shape thinking goes something like this: if you
of altering the placement of a V bend between the canine would like to move a molar lingually and rotate the
and the first molar. The forces and the moments between tooth mesiobuccally, bend the wire so that it lies lingual
the canines tend to cancel out across the anterior part and angled to the bracket. As we have seen, this may
of the arch (although side effects are still possible with create many different force systems and may not pro-
highly flexible wires). For that reason we will primarily duce the force system that is needed. A scientific and
concentrate on the force system on the first molars. If more creative approach is to (1) determine where the
the V bend is placed one third of the distance from teeth should be moved and (2) establish the directions
the canine bracket to the molar tube as measured of both the force and the moment needed. Ideally, we
from the canine bracket, a lingual force would be should also establish the magnitudes of these forces and
produced on the molar, moving it lingually without the ratio between the moment and force, but for now
any rotation (Fig. 11, A). If the V bend is placed we will consider only the directions of the force and
close to the first molar, a force is produced moving moment and (3) develop the proper shape in the wire
the first molars buccally and a moment produces to deliver that force system. This is what we mean by
mesiobuccal rotation (Fig. 11, C). As would be creative wire bending. A force-driven appliance is not
expected, if the V bend is placed centrally between the fabricated by the shape of an ideal wire or by falla-
canine and the first molar, equal and opposite couples ciously placing the wire in one bracket and looking to
would be produced. This allows for pure rotation of see where the wire is at the other bracket, imagining
the first molar without the buccal force (Fig. 11, B). the teeth will move to that position on the wire. It is
If we would like to rotate the molar with the mesial based on understanding some very fundamental rela-
aspect out and also have a lingual force, the V bend tionships between the force system and what type of
must be placed somewhere between the a/L of 0.3 and bend is used and where it is placed. The appliance thus
0.5 as measured from the canine bracket. In a situation becomes force driven and is shaped to deliver the de-
in which mesiolingual rotation and lingual force on the sired forces rather than some arbitrary shape that some-
first molar are required (this is sometimes indicated in how is related to the final position of the teeth or an
uniarch extraction cases), the V bend should be placed exaggeration of the final position of the teeth.
as close as possible to the bracket on the canine (a/L The step bend, unlike the V bend, is not critical in
greater than 0.66). its mesiodistal placement. For those orthodontists using
66 Bucvrone and Koenig

tipback mechanics with tipback bends such as the have considered brackets in a straight hne with vana-
Tweed technique, this fact offers great convenience. tions of V and step bends. The usual clinical situation
Historically, bends have been placed that are called long will have a combination of bends and malaligned brack-
ot short tipbacks; these bends are placed either off cen- ets that ate not in a straight line. The actual force system
ter or on center and may change in position during is produced by adding together the two effects. Prcvi-
tipback mechanics. The favorable finding from this ously, the force system from malaligned brackets in z;
study shows that the placement of the bend does not straight wire was discussed and certain principles elic
appreciably influence the force system present. ited on the basis of the relative angmation of adjacent
The last clinical example that will be given is the brackets. To produce a desired force system, two ap-
placement of anterior esthetic bends. Fig. 12 shows an proaches are possible. The first approach allows the
upper anterior segment in which esthetic bends have orthodontist to use a straight wire, triggering the force
been placed between the four incisors. Although when system produced by the wire in malaligned brackets
play is present there may be other effects between and adding the proper bends whose force systems are
brackets from one bracket down the line to nonadjacent summated to the straight wire force system. Thi< IS
brackets, our analysis will &ZOY~this phenomenon and called the super-position method. The other approach
also the mesiodistal forces (in order) that the funda- is to first contour the wire passively between two brack-
mental effects of this configuration can be studied. ets and then to add the proper V or step bends. Since
Between the central incisors, a V bend is placed in this approach we remove the force system produced
that produces equal and opposite couples. This is shown by a straight wire and maialigned brackets, it is referred
as the block A of the force system in Fig. 12, Between to as the subtraction method. With small interbracket
the central and the lateral incisors, a step bend is seen. distances, it becomes increasingly difficult to use cithet
The unidirectional couples and vertical forces of the the super-position or the subtraction method. Small CT-
step ate shown in block 3. If there is an addition of rots in wire bending can produce large errors in force
the force system from the V bend and the step, the total systems. As the interbracket distance increases. out
force system on each of the four brackets is shown in potential for delivering the desired force system 1s en
block C. The total force system acting at each of the hanced. Nevertheless. regatdless of the interbracket
incisors is very interesting, producing both desirable distance, knowing where to place the bend and knowing
and undesirable effects in most patients. There ate mo- what type of bend to place at least heads the clinician
ments tending to move the roots distally and this is in the right direction to achieve the proper tooth
desirable; unfortunately, the moments are not equal--- movement.
larger moments ate present on the central incisors in In this study we purposely have looked at the eltect
comparison to the lateral incisors. The actual moments of only two basic types of bends. V and step, on the
that would be acting on the lateral incisor. of course, force system using small deflection theory. .4tthough
would be dependent upon what type of bend is placed we have the capability of solving these problems in
between the lateral and the canine. which. for simplicity large deflection formulation, it is important to have n
of analysis, we are ignoring. intrusive forces ate pro- first approximation using small deflection theory tc: r’h--
duced at the lateral brackets. These teeth will not be tablish some of the basic principles. Future studies are
intruded provided the arch wire is connected to the important to determine what differences in the actual
posterior teeth. On the central incisors. an extrusive force systems exist with large deflections. Particularly.
force is produced and in patients who previously have the calculation of mesiodistal forces requires a consid-
had intrusion of teeth or who have deep overbites, this eration of both large deflection theory and bracket wire
extrusive force becomes an undesirable side effect interface phenomena such as freedom to slide and play.
Many orthodontists have noticed that when they place V and step bands ate not the only bends that can
esthetic bends, the deep overbite increases. This could be placed to produce a given force system. Combma..
be anticipated by an understanding of the force system. tions of V bends and steps can be used. 11-iparticular.
Conversely, if one tried to correct a deep overbite by arcs or wire curvatures have many advantages in pro-
stepping the incisors apically, the moments produced ducing the desired forces and moments, more predict-
would tend to move the roots mesially. For these reasons ably, eliminating permanent deformation of wires and
esthetic bends may not be the most sensible way to creating an activated wire shape that more closel:; ap-
correct the axial inclinations of the incisors in many proximates a straight wire. A discussion of the u>e of
patients. wire curvatures instead of V and step bends IS beyond
This study and the clinical applications ot results the scope of this article.
Vol1rme 91
Creative wire bending 67
Number 1

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

over occurs with an a/L of 0.33, where no mo-
The effects of placing V bends and steps between ment is produced at the bracket farthest away
brackets was studied by means of an analytic technique. from the V bend.
It was found that the placement of a V or step bend The clinical application of understanding and using
and its positioning between two brackets will produce these basic relationships between wire shape and force
a characteristic force system. systems is discussed.
1. A step between two brackets produces unidirec- Creative wire bending is based upon first determin-
tional couples of equal magnitude and horizontal ing a force system required for the desired tooth move-
or vertical forces, depending upon the plane of ment and then placing the proper shape and bend to
activation. create that force system.
2. The mesiodistal placement of a step does not
alter the force system in any appreciable amount. REFERENCES
3. A V bend placed between brackets produces en- Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. AM
tirely different force systems, depending upon J ORTHOD1974;65:270-89.
Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch-
the centering or lack of centering of the apex of large deflection considerations [in press].
the V. Koenig HA, Burstone CJ. Analysis of generalized curved beams
4. The position of the apex of the V can be de- for orthodontic application. J Biomech 1974;7:429-35.
scribed conveniently as the ratio of a/L (the dis- DeFranco J, Koenig H, Burstone CJ. Three-dimensional large
displacement analysis of orthodontic appliances. J Biomech
tance between the apex to one bracket over the
1976;9:793-801.
total interbracket distance).
5. Each a/L ratio has a characteristic force system. Reprint requests to:
Dr. Charles J. Burstone
An orderly progression between incremental University of Connecticut Health Center
changes in the a/L ratio and the moments at the School of Dental Medicine
attached brackets is given. Farmington, CT 06032-9984
6. With a V bend, the point of zero moment cross-