Simulation of superelastic NiTi wire force application on orthodontic alignment case

Abstract

Ni-Ti orthodontic wires are the most accurate initial wire to align the teeth by producing the less painful bone remodeling. Coupling their mechanical response, while they are engaged in the oral cavity, to the bone remodeling would permit to elucidate the reaction and the effect of this sort of wire during the orthodontic alignment. Therefore, A two-dimensional numerical long-term orthodontic correction was performed to simulate an intrusion movement. This correction was achieved by taking into consideration the effect of an orthodontic appliance using a Ni-Ti shape-memory alloy arch wire. The superelastic behavior of this wire was integrated in the computer software ABAQUS via a UMAT subroutine. The orthodontic arch was initially deformed to simulate its insertion in brackets and then unloaded to apply an orthodontic load and produce initial tooth displacement. A bone remodeling process was implemented to displace the teeth depending on the periodontal ligament strain. The results were obtained for a treatment period of 30 days. The Ni-Ti wire was able to recuperate its initial position and the teeth were aligned. The numerical results of the teeth displacement were in agreement with what was expected to produce during the alignment phase.