The Ground Rules for Arch Wire Design

Robert J. Isaacson, Steven J. Lindauer, and Moshe Davidovitch

All force systems applied to a tooth are composed of either single forces
and/or couples. The application of a force through the center of resistance of
a tooth will result in translation of the tooth. The application of a force to act
at points other than through the center of resistance of a tooth will produce
different tendencies for rotation. Tooth rotation resulting from the applica-
tion of a force always creates a simultaneous tendency to move the center
of resistance of a tooth in the direction the force is acting. In contrast, the
location of a couple on a tooth is irrelevant to the resulting tooth movement.
A couple can never move the center of resistance, and with a couple the
center of rotation and the center of resistance will always be coincident. The
equilibrium forces, associated with a moment of a couple, also are single-
point forces and can produce different tooth movements depending on
where they are applied. All tooth movement must be either translation and/
or rotation as defined at the tooth's center of resistance.
Copyright © 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company

e principles o f physical science that con- c e n t e r o f mass. T h e a n a l o g o u s p o i n t f o r an in

ol t o o t h m o v e m e n t are best a d a p t e d to vivo t o o t h is r e f e r r e d to as the c e n t e r o f resis-
o r t h o d o n t i c p r o c e d u r e s u s i n g s o m e basic, well- tance (CR,.~) (Fig 1). A n y fbrce a c t i n g t h r o u g h
established concepts. 1-4 the t o o t h ' s c e n t e r o f resistance causes the t o o t h
to translate.

Center of Resistance Tooth Movements

I m a g i n e a t o o t h as a motionless free b o d y in W h e n a n a r c h wire applies a f o r c e to displace a
space. A n y f o r c e d i r e c t e d t h r o u g h the tooth's tooth, the t o o t h can r e s p o n d with o n l y trans-
c e n t e r o f mass w o u l d cause the entire t o o t h to lation, rotation, o r a c o m b i n a t i o n o f these two
m o v e in the d i r e c t i o n o f the a p p l i e d force. A m o v e m e n t s . T r a n s l a t i o n r e q u i r e s t h a t all
force acting t h r o u g h the c e n t e r o f mass results points o n the t o o t h m o v e the s a m e a m o u n t in
in a m o v e m e n t w h e r e all points o n the t o o t h the s a m e direction. R o t a t i o n r e q u i r e s t h a t n o
m o v e the same a m o u n t in the s a m e direction. two points o n the t o o t h m o v e the s a m e a m o u n t
T h i s type o f t o o t h m o v e m e n t is t e r m e d trans- in the s a m e direction. T h e t e n d e n c y to r o t a t e is
lation o r bodily m o v e m e n t in o r t h o d o n t i c s . called a m o m e n t .
T h e in vivo t o o t h is n o t a free b o d y because T h e g e n e r i c t e r m r o t a t i o n is u s e d with m o r e
it is r e s t r a i n e d f r o m m o v e m e n t by its attach- specific o r t h o d o n t i c application: f i r s t - o r d e r ro-
m e n t s to the s u p p o r t i n g tissues. T h e r e f o r e , the tation o r r o t a t i o n a r o u n d a l o n g axis o f a t o o t h ,
p o i n t at which all resistance to d i s p l a c e m e n t w h i c h is r e f e r r e d to as r o t a t i o n in o r t h o d o n -
m a y be t h o u g h t o f as c o n c e n t r a t e d is n o t at its tics; s e c o n d - o r d e r r o t a t i o n o r r o t a t i o n a r o u n d
a faciolingual axis o f a t o o t h , w h i c h is r e f e r r e d
to as tip in o r t h o d o n t i c s ; a n d t h i r d - o r d e r rota-
From the Department of Orthodontics, School of Denti,~try,
tion o r r o t a t i o n a r o u n d a mesiodistal axis o f a
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA. t o o t h , w h i c h is r e f e r r e d to as t o r q u e in o r t h -
Address reprint requests to Robert J. Isaaeson, DMD, MSD, odontics.
PhD, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Medical
College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box Force Systems
980566, Richmond, VA 23298-0566.
Copyright © 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company T h e f o r c e systems o f a r c h wires are a n a l y z e d in
I073-8746/9510101-000155.00/0 t e r m s o f f u n d a m e n t a l b u i l d i n g blocks. T h e s e

Seminars in Orthodontics, Vol 1, No 1 (March), 1995: pp 3-11 3

4 Isaacson, Lindauer, and Davidovitch

Figure 1. A force ing through the center of re-

sistance will cause all points on the tooth to move the
same amount in that same direction. This is termed Figure 3. Tooth rotation resulting from a force not
translation and is possible in any direction. acting through the CRes viewed as the simultaneous
process of tooth translation that moves the Cl~es in
b u i l d i n g blocks are e i t h e r single-point forces the direction of the force and, tooth rotation around
a n d / o r pairs o f equal a n d o p p o s i t e noncollin- the CRew.
ear forces called couples.
T h e rotational t e n d e n c y , o r m o m e n t , p r o -
T h e S i n g l e - P o i n t Force d u c e d by a force n o t acting t h r o u g h t h e CRe s, is
e x p r e s s e d as the m o m e n t o f the force, M F (Fig
A single-point f o r c e a p p l i e d to a t o o t h has b o t h 5). T h e m a g n i t u d e o f the M F is m e a s u r e d as
a m a g n i t u d e a n d a direction. W h e n a single the m a g n i t u d e o f the f o r c e (F) m u l t i p l i e d by
f o r c e is d i r e c t e d t h r o u g h the CR~s, the t o o t h the p e r p e n d i c u l a r distance (d) b e t w e e n the line
feels a t e n d e n c y to translate o r to displace all o f the force a n d the c e n t e r o f resistance (M F =
points o n the t o o t h the s a m e a m o u n t in the F • d). I n o r t h o d o n t i c applications, it is c o n v e n -
s a m e d i r e c t i o n as the a p p l i e d f o r c e (Fig 1). tional to e x p r e s s the units o f a M F in t e r m s o f
O n l y forces are c a p a b l e o f m o v i n g the CR~S o f the force multiplied by a distance, eg, g • m m . 5
a tooth. T h e use o f g . m m to e x p r e s s m o m e n t s is a n
C o m m o n l y , a single-point force c a n n o t be o r t h o d o n t i c c o n v e n t i o n . G r a m s a r e units o f
a p p l i e d to act directly t h r o u g h the CR~ a n d mass a n d n o t p r o p e r l y used to e x p r e s s forces.
m u s t be a p p l i e d at the bracket. W h e n a force Forces are p r o p e r l y e x p r e s s e d as N e w t o n s .
does n o t act t h r o u g h the CR~ ~ o f a tooth, the T h e c o n v e r s i o n factors are: 1 g = .00981 N o r
t o o t h rotates (Fig 2). T h i s r o t a t i o n can be de- 1 N = 101.937 g.
scribed two d i f f e r e n t ways. F r o m o n e perspec-
tive, the CRe~ m o v e s in the d i r e c t i o n o f the line A Couple
o f the force, w h e r e a s the t o o t h s i m u l t a n e o u s l y A n arch wire m a y also send a signal to the pe-
rotates a r o u n d the CR~ ~ (Fig 3). Alternately, r i o d o n t i u m for t o o t h m o v e m e n t via a pair o f
the t o o t h m o v e m e n t resulting f r o m these two
s i m u l t a n e o u s events is kinematically d e s c r i b e d
by an i n s t a n t a n e o u s c e n t e r o f r o t a t i o n which is
n e v e r at the CR~ S (Fig 4). Center of Rotation

Center of Resistance

-fF Figure 4. Tooth rotation from a kinematic perspec-

tire describes rotation from time 1 to time 2 as
Figure 2. A single force applied at the bracket and movement around a center of rotation. T h e actual
not at the center of resistance will cause rotation of tooth movement clearly does not occur by move-
the tooth. Examples are shown of two possible force ment of points on the tooth along arcs of concentric
directions, circles around a center of rotation.
 Ground Rules 5

<0T c
Figure 5. A tooth that receives a force not acting
through the CR~~ feels a m o m e n t or tendency to
rotate. T h e magnitude of this m o m e n t is measured
as the magnitude of lhe force times the perpendic-
ular distance from the line of the force to the CR,:~
and is expressed in f o r c e , distance units, M t, -
F . d . First, second, and t h i r d - o r d e r rotations are
<+TF
shown.
Figure 6. Moment of a couple resulting in first- and
equal and opposite noncollinear forces, second-order rotations. T h e two forces of the cou-
termed a couple. The force system of a couple ple on each bracket are located equidistant from the
is t h e s u m o f t h e f o r c e s y s t e m s o f t h e two e q u a l CR~~. T h e C~,~ and the center of rotation will be
coincident. M c F - d.
and opposite single tortes that comprise the
couple.
Alone, each force of a couple would move c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e r o t a t i o n , t h e r e m a i n d e r is a
t h e CRc ~ in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e f o r c e as d e - m o m e n t in a c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n e x -
scribed tot the single-point iorce. Because the actly as if t h e c o u p l e w e r e p o s i t i o n e d with t h e
two f o r c e s a r e e q u a l a n d o p p o s i t e , e a c h f o r c e two f o r c e s e q u i d i s t a n t f r o m t h e CR~ ~ s i m i l a r to
t e n d s to m o v e t h e CR,, ~ in an e q u a l a n d o p p o - t h o s e s h o w n in F i g u r e 6. T h e r e t o r e , w h e n a
site d i r e c t i o n . ' l h e r e f b r e , n o m o v e m e n t o f t h e c o u p l e is a p p l i e d to a b r a c k e t , tile r e s u l t i n g
CR~ ~ c a n e v e r r e s u l t f r o m t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a t o o t h r o t a t i o n is u n a f f e c t e d by t h e l o c a t i o n o f
c o u p l e to a t o o t h , n o m a t t e r w h e r e t h e c o u p l e t h e b r a c k e t o n tile t o o t h o r w h a t t o r q u e is b u i l t
is a p p l i e d o n t h e t o o t h . into t h e b r a c k e t . T h e t o o t h c a n o n l y r e s p o n d to
A l o n e , e a c h t o r t e o f t h e c o u p l e also t e n d s to a c o u p l e w i t h r o t a t i o n a r o u n d its CR~ ~.
r o t a t e t h e t o o t h as d e s c r i b e d f o r t h e single- The rotational tendency produced by a cou-
p o i n t force. W h e n t h e lines o f f o r c e o f e a c h o f
t h e two f o r c e s o f t h e c o u p l e a r e l o c a t e d e q u i -
d i s t a n t f r o m t h e CR¢.~ b o t h f o r c e s o f tim c o u p l e
t e n d to r o t a t e t h e t o o t h in t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n
a r o u n d t h e CR~ , (Fig 6).
E v e n w h e n t h e lines o f f o r c e o f t h e two C
f o r c e s o f t h e c o u p l e a r e not l o c a t e d e q u i d i s t a n t
f r o m t h e CR~ ~, t h e y still p r o d u c e e x a c t l y t h e
same tendency for rotation of the tooth. In
F i g u r e 7, a t h i r d - o r d e r c o u p l e is l o c a t e d at a
b r a c k e t with t h e line o f f o r c e o f e a c h o f t h e

FIIF2
f o r c e s o f t h e c o u p l e a c t i n g at d i f f e r e n t dis-
t a n c e s f r o m t h e CR,+~. T h e f o r c e n e a r e s t t h e
CR~ , p r o d u c e s a s m a l l e r m o m e n t o r t e n d e n c y
f o r r o t a t i o n in a clockwise d i r e c t i o n b e c a u s e d
t h e f o r c e is m u l t i p l i e d by a s m a l l e r p e r p e n d i c -
u l a r d i s t a n c e to t h e CR~ s. T h e [ b r c e l o c a t e d Mc = F'd
f u r t h e r f r o m t h e CRy+ p r o d u c e s a l a r g e r m o -
m e n t o r t e n d e n c y f o r r o t a t i o n in a n opposite
c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n b e c a u s e t h e f o r c e is Figure 7. Moment of a couple resulting in a third-
o r d e r rotation where the two forces o f the couple
m u l t i p l i e d by a l a r g e r p e r p e n d i c u l a r d i s t a n c e
are not located equidistant from the CRe+. No matter
to t h e CR~ +. W h e n t h e m o m e n t f o r c l o c k w i s e where the couple is located on the tooth, the CRes is
r o t a t i o n is s u b t r a c t e d f r o m t h e m o m e n t f o r always coincident with the center of rotation.
6 Isaacson, Lindauer, and Davidovitch

pie is also r e f e r r e d to as a m o m e n t , the mo- site to the m o m e n t created by the associated

m e n t of the couple, M c. T h e m a g n i t u d e of the equilibrium forces at the attached e n d s o f the
M c is equal to the sum o f the m o m e n t s o f the arch wire. This is equilibrium. Because the to-
two equal and opposite single forces that com- tal force system p r e s e n t d u r i n g equilibrium is
prise the couple. T h e r e f o r e , the m a g n i t u d e of difficult to visualize and not intuitive, c o m p o -
the M c equals the m a g n i t u d e o f one of the nent parts can be o v e r l o o k e d a n d p r o d u c e un-
forces o f the couple multiplied by the distance wanted clinical tooth m o v e m e n t s .
between the two forces o f the couple (Figs 6 Equilibrium m u s t exist for all first, second,
and 7). and third o r d e r rotations derived f r o m a mo-
T h e uniqueness o f the edgewise appliance m e n t of a couple, M c. For e x a m p l e , a first-
arises f r o m its ability to g e n e r a t e couples in o r d e r couple, created at a m o l a r bracket by
t h r e e planes. No m a t t e r w h e r e a bracket is activating an arch wire as s h o w n in Figure 8,
placed on a tooth, a couple applied at that tends to rotate the m o l a r in a clockwise direc-
bracket can only cause the tooth to feeI a ten- tion. W h e n the arch wire is d e f o r m e d to create
dency to rotate a r o u n d its center of resistance. this first-order couple at the bracket, the strain
A couple alone c a n n o t cause the center of re- created in the wire results in an equal a n d op-
sistance to m o v e in any direction a n d the cen- posite tendency to rotate the attached ends o f
ter o f rotation a n d the center o f resistance will the w i r e in a c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n ,
always be coincident. F 2 • d 2. Equilibrium requires that the clockwise
m o m e n t of the couple at the bracket, (F 1 • dl),
be equal and opposite to the counterclockwise
Equilibrium m o m e n t at the ends of the wire, (F 2 • d2). Fig-
Newton's third law requires that for every ac- ure 9 shows an e x a m p l e o f a couple creating
tion t h e r e be an equal a n d opposite reaction. s e c o n d - o r d e r rotations at a m o l a r b r a c k e t with
This is easy to visualize for single-point forces its associated equilibrium.
w h e n a given wire is pressed against an iden- T h e equilibrium forces associated with a M c
tical wire a n d b o t h wires d e f o r m equally in op- also are single-point forces and, d e p e n d i n g on
posite directions. W h e n the wires are o f un- where they are applied, can p r o d u c e a M F. Al-
equal resistance, the w e a k e r wire will d e f o r m t h o u g h the location o f the force at a bracket
m o r e , but b o t h wires will still be p u s h i n g with cannot be varied greatly, in a o n e - c o u p l e sys-
equal and opposite m a g n i t u d e s o f force. Equi- tem, ie, w h e r e only one e n d o f the arch wire
librium requires that the sum o f the forces act- engages a bracket to f o r m a couple, the attach-
ing in any plane equal zero. m e n t of the o t h e r e n d of the wire is a point
Equilibrium also requires that the sum of
the m o m e n t s in any p l a n e equal zero. W h e n an
arch wire engages a bracket to create a couple

~-~/~
at that bracket, the tooth feels a tendency for
rotation a r o u n d its CRes. T h e couple at the F2 <
bracket is activated by b e n d i n g or twisting the F1,
arch wire between the bracket and the next
a t t a c h m e n t o f the arch wire. This creates strain d FI-~ dl[
in the wire to either m o v e the bracket or the
o t h e r e n d o f the wire until the wire is again F2"d2 + Fcd~ = 0
passive.6-9
Equilibrium consists o f a balance. A l t h o u g h F2 + =o
the couple created at the bracket results in a
m o m e n t in one direction, the forces at the ends Figure 8. A V-bend creating a positive first-order
o f the activated arch wire r e p r e s e n t a n o t h e r moment, F 1 • d 1, at the molar. Clockwise rotations
are positive by convention. Equilibrium requires
couple with a m o m e n t in an opposite direction. that a negative counterclockwise moment, F z - d 2,
T h e m a g n i t u d e o f the m o m e n t created by the be present and that the sum of F t . d 1 + F 2 . d 2
couple at the b r a c k e t m u s t be equal and o p p o - = 0.
 Ground Rules 7

Rotation occurs when a single force does not

act t h r o u g h the CRe s and the tooth feels a M F
(Fig 2). With a M E the CRes is displaced in the
same direction as the line o f force similar to
translation, and the tooth also feels a simulta-
neous t e n d e n c y for rotation a r o u n d the CRes
(Fig 3). Rotation also occurs when a couple is
applied to a bracket and the tooth feels a M c
(Figs 6 and 7). A M c is not capable o f m o v i n g
the CR~S.
Fl"dl + F2"d2= 0 A typical clinical example is a single, distally
+ =o directed force acting at the bracket o f a tooth
on a continuous arch wire as shown in Figure
Figure 9. A V-bend creating a positive clockwise sec- 10. This force results in a M E t e n d i n g to move
ond-order moment F t • d 1, at the molar. Equilib- the CR~s in the direction o f the force a n d also
rium requires that a negative counterclockwise mo- to rotate the tooth a r o u n d its CRe~. T o coun-
ment, F2 • d 2, be present and that the sum of F x • d~ teract this t e n d e n c y o f the tooth to tip in a
+ F,) • d 2 = 0. The associated equilibrium forces act
at the bracket and not through the CRe~in all planes clockwise direction, the edgewise bracket is de-
resulting in a M F for third-order rotations for both signed to e n g a g e a s e c o n d - o r d e r couple to ro-
teeth. tate the tooth in the opposite counterclockwise
direction. A perfect balance between the ten-
a t t a c h m e n t that can be varied to act either dency o f the M E t o rotate the tooth in a clock-
t h r o u g h the CR~S of a tooth or away f r o m the wise direction and the t e n d e n c y o f the M c to
CR~~ p r o d u c i n g a M v. Unlike the M c, the M v in rotate the tooth in a counterclockwise direction
would p r o d u c e tooth translation. I n applied
a one-couple system can be increased or de-
o r t h o d o n t i c terminology, this relationship is
creased just by relocating the site o f force ap-
plication to change the distance between the expressed as a ratio o f the M c to the F that
p r o d u c e s the ME, or the m o m e n t to force ratio,
line o f the force and the CRew. T h e M v is not
M/F. 5
intrinsic to the arch wire.
It is useful to r e m e m b e r that the equilib- For example, in F i g u r e 10, distal canine
translation is desired a n d a force o f 100 g is
rium o f a M c is intrinsic to the wire as the wire
is d e f o r m e d to activate the c o u p l e at the applied 10 m m coronal to the center o f resis-
bracket. T h e strain created in the wire by this tance. This will tend to move the center o f re-
b e n d i n g or twisting is the source o f the associ- sistance distally in the direction o f the force
ated equilibrium felt at the attached ends o f
the wire.

Mc =Fod
Force Systems and Tooth Movements
~=lOmm
Arch wire bends, no matter how complex, send
a message to the tooth consisting o f a single 100 g
force applied at some specific point a n d / o r a
couple with no specific point o f application.
T h e tooth can r e s p o n d only with translatory ~F = F'd = 100 g .10 mm = 1000 g.mm
and/or rotational movements.
T r a n s l a t i o n occurs only w h e n a force is Figure 10. Canine retraction with a 100 g force act-
present. An isolated and single force, acting ing 10 mm coronal to the CRes creates a positive M F
of 1,000 g • mm. The edgewise appliance engages a
t h r o u g h the CRes, can translate a tooth without second-order couple at the bracket that must create
rotation, but only in the direction o f the line o f a negative 1,000 g • mm Mc to avoid distal crown
the force (Fig 1). tipping.
8 Isaacsorz, Lindauer, and Davidovitch

vector. Because the force is not acting t h r o u g h ment created by the couple is possible by plac-
the center o f resistance, a tendency for distal ing one end of an arch wire over, but not in,
crown tip or M F wiI1 also be present. T h e mo- the bracket slot where it is to be inserted. Place
ment or tendency to rotate in this direction is the o t h e r end o f the wire at the location where
quantitated at 100 g • 10 m m = 1,000 g . ram. it wilI be tied as a single-point contact. W h e n
W h e n the wire is seated in an edgewise the wire crosses the bracket at an angle, the
bracket, a tendency to rotate the tooth in the bracket may be visualized as rotating to the
opposite direction is provided by a M c created wire and this is the direction o f the m o m e n t
by a s e c o n d - o r d e r couple at the bracket. If the that will be created (Figs 8 and 9). Knowing the
bracket is 4-ram long, an arch wire would have direction of the m o m e n t at the bracket permits
to exert 250 g at each end o f the bracket to identification o f the direction o f the forces in
create the necessary M c o f 1,000 g • m m in the the associated equilibrium.
opposite direction. I f this could be achieved, all T h e m a g n i t u d e o f the forces and m o m e n t s
tendencies for rotation would be eliminated in a one-couple system can be estimated clini-
and the net tooth m o v e m e n t would be transla- cally by measuring the force r e q u i r e d to de-
tion in the direction of the applied force. form the wire for the tie at the point contact.
This force multiplied by the distance between
the bracket and the point a t t a c h m e n t o f the
Clinical Applications
arch wire equals a m o m e n t which is equal and
In discussing the use o f these basic principIes opposite in direction to the M c at the bracket.
with o r t h o d o n t i c appliances and tooth move- T o estimate the m a g n i t u d e o f each o f the
ments, it is i m p o r t a n t to r e m e m b e r that all ex- forces o f the couple at the bracket, divide the
amples are analyzed u n d e r static conditions. magnitude of this m o m e n t by the length o f the
T o attempt to u n d e r s t a n d appliances in terms bracket.
o f the changing conditions that are created as
tooth m o v e m e n t proceeds is the more complex Two Brackets and Two Couples
field o f dynamics. W h e n the free end of the arch wire in a one-
bracket system is not used as a point contact,
One Bracket and One Couple and instead is inserted into a second bracket, a
T h e simplest a r r a n g e m e n t of an orthodontic two-couple system is usually created. For pur-
force system involving a couple is an arch wire poses of establishing the direction o f the asso-
developing a single couple at one bracket. Ex- ciated equilibrium forces, the two-bracket sys-
amples o f this type o f system discussed in this tem can be considered as the sum o f two suc-
issue are s e g m e n t e d springs, anterior intrusion cessive one-bracket systems. In this issue, we
arches, and anterior extrusion arches. will discuss t o r q u i n g a r c h e s , u p s i d e - d o w n
In a single-bracket system, one end of the t o r q u i n g arches, utility arches, u p s i d e - d o w n
arch wire is inserted into a bracket with an ac- utility arches, transverse activations, some seg-
tivation b e n d usually located close to this m e n t e d springs, and transpalatal lingual arches
bracket. T h e o t h e r end o f the wire is displaced as examples of systems in which both ends o f
and tied s o m e w h e r e as a single-point contact the wire are inserted into brackets.
(Figs 8 and 9). W h e n the activated wire is tied A two-bracket system usually creates cou-
at the point contact, the arch wire engages the ples and tendencies for rotation at each o f the
bracket and two equal and opposite forces two brackets. With a two-bracket system, when
f o r m the couple at the bracket. This couple the wire is placed over the slots o f the two
p r o d u c e s a M c or tendency to rotate the tooth brackets where it will be inserted, the angle o f
a r o u n d its CRes. entry of the wire vis-a-vis each bracket slot is
W h e n a c o u p l e creates a M c at a single not necessarily an accurate estimate o f the di-
bracket, it is i m p o r t a n t to know the direction o f rection o f the M c at both brackets. This differ-
the m o m e n t at the bracket to know the direc- ence from a one bracket, one-couple system is
tion o f the forces o f the associated equilibrium. related to the properties o f the wire when cer-
With a one bracket, one-couple system, a use- tain specific relationships exist between the two
ful clinical estimate of the direction o f the too- brackets. T h e s e specific relationships are dis-
 Ground Rules 9

cussed in detail in the introduction to the sec-

tion on three-dimensional (3-D) wires.
0
With a two-bracket system, when the wire is
placed over the slots of the two brackets where Mc
it will be inserted, the angle o f entry o f the wire
at each bracket slot does show which bracket
has the larger angle of entry and, therefore,
the larger m o m e n t . This is i m p o r t a n t because,
irrespective of the direction of the m o m e n t at
the second bracket, the larger m o m e n t will dic- d2 ~F2
tate the direction o f the associated net equilib- ~F2
rium forces acting at each bracket. T h e older At tooth A , ~ c = Fl"d I , A
c o m m o n l y practiced rule o f placing one end o f the associated equilibrium =rF~d 2
an arch wire in a bracket and using the position Fed1+ Fz'd2=0 ~'~+ ~=0
of the o t h e r end o f the wire as an indicator o f B
the direction of the resulting forces has m a n y
i m p o r t a n t exceptions (Fig 11).
In a two-bracket system the forces o f the
e q u i l i b r i u m associated with the m o m e n t at
each bracket always act at both brackets. Con-
sider a wire to be inserted into two successive
brackets on tooth A and B. T h e M c resulting
f r o m the insertion o f the wire into the bracket
at tooth A will have associated equilibrium
forces acting on tooth A as well as tooth B.
These are labelled F 2 in Figure 12A. T h e M c
'F, d4 ~F 4

At tooth B, tM~cc= F3"da ,_A

d3
. F3
the associated equilibrium =~F~d4
resulting f r o m the insertion of the wire into
F4"d4+Fa'd3=O ~+ ~=0
the bracket at tooth B will also have associated
equilibrium forces acting on both teeth A and ® A B
B. T h e s e are labelled F 4 in Figure 12B. T h e
combined actions o f the M c at tooth A and the
M c at tooth B are shown in Figure 12C. Be-
cause the V bend produces equal and opposite

F2~'F4 F2~F4
Total system for 2 couples with a V bend
Figure 12. Forces and moments present in a two-
bracket, two-couple system. (A) The Mo F l • d],
I False I False and its associated equilibrium, F2,' d2, resulting
from the engagement of the arch wire in tooth A.
Figure 11. Errors that will be made if the direction (B) The equal and opposite M o F3"d3, and the
of the force systems in an two-couple system are associated equilibrium, F4 • d4, resulting from the
attempted to be read by placing one end of the wire engagement of the arch wire in tooth B. (C) Shows
in one bracket and noting the position of the other the total system effect on the two teeth which is a
end of the wire. combination of the separate effects shown in A
and B.
10 I~aacsozz, Lindauer, and Davidovitch

couples at teeth A a n d B, the associated equi- d e t e r m i n e the direction o f the associated equi-
librium forces are equal a n d opposite and can- librium forces. At each tooth, the m a g n i t u d e o f
cel each o t h e r out at both teeth. the equilibrium force associated with the larger
M c at each tooth will be m o d i f i e d by the equi-
Two BracketsmTwo Equal and librium forces associated with the smaller M c.
Oppositely Directed Couples Each bracket will feel the net d i f f e r e n c e (Fig
W h e n the M c at each o f two successive brack- 13). T h e m a g n i t u d e and direction o f the equi-
ets are equal a n d opposite, their associated librium forces associated with the smaller M c
e q u i l i b r i u m forces at each b r a c k e t are also are p r o p o r t i o n a l to the m a g n i t u d e a n d direc-
equal a n d opposite a n d function to cancel each tion o f the smaller M c. This m o m e n t will vary
o t h e r out (Fig 12). T h i s is sometimes r e f e r r e d d e p e n d i n g o n w h e t h e r t h e w i r e is t w o -
to as a symmetrical V - b e n d and it is a s s u m e d d i m e n s i o n a l (2-D) o r 3-D a n d w h e r e t h e
that it is placed equidistant between two collin- V-bend is located along the wire. T h e details o f
ear brackets. A symmetrical V is used when this question are discussed in the section on
equal and opposite m o m e n t s are desired at two 3-D.
successive teeth a n d the forces o f the equilib- This wire configuration is r e f e r r e d to as an
r i u m associated with each m o m e n t are not asymmetrical V or off-center b e n d , but it is not
wanted. a question of w h e r e the V is located. T h e crit-
For a symmetrical V - b e n d to develop equal ical factor is the resulting o r i e n t a t i o n o f the
and opposite couples at two brackets, it is nec- wire to each bracket slot. T h i s angle o f e n t r y
essary that the brackets are collinear with the d e t e r m i n e s the larger m o m e n t c r e a t e d and,
bracket slots in a l i g n m e n t with each other. Be-
cause malocclusions c o m m o n l y show a s y m m e t -
rically positioned or noncollinear brackets on
the teeth, equal and opposite m o m e n t s at two
successive brackets often will not result f r o m a
V-bend placed equidistant between two brack-
ets. T h e i m p o r t a n t point is not the location of
the V-bend. It is the creation o f equal and op-
posite m o m e n t s at the two successive brackets.
Equal and opposite m o m e n t s are accomplished
by adjusting the angle o f entry o f the arch wire
until it is equal a n d opposite w h e n the wire is
placed o v e r the two bracket slots b e f o r e inser-
tion.

Two Brackets--Two Unequal Oppositely

Directed Couples
For clinical p u r p o s e s , the effect of unequal and
oppositely directed couples at two successive
brackets m a y be t h o u g h t of as the algebraic
sum of the two single-bracket systems present. Figure 13. Two-bracket, two-couple system with an
T h e relative m a g n i t u d e o f the m o m e n t s at two asymmetrical V-bend in the arch wire. This shows
successive teeth is a p p r o x i m a t e d clinically by which moment is larger and the direction of its as-
sociated equilibrium forces, information that can be
e x a m i n i n g the wire passively placed o v e r the determined clinically. The larger moment at tooth
two bracket slots. T h e bracket with the larger A determines the direction of the associated equi-
angle o f entry and, t h e r e f o r e the larger M o librium forces. The smaller oppositely directed mo-
will have a g r e a t e r t e n d e n c y to rotate t h a n the ment at tooth B has smaller associated equilibrium
bracket with the smaller M c. forces that function to modify the larger equilib-
rium forces associated with tooth A. The direction
W h e n the directions of the M c at two suc- of the smaller moment at tooth B and its associated
cessive brackets are u n e q u a l and in opposite equilibrium forces are not discernable clinically and
directions, the larger o f the two m o m e n t s will are not shown.
 Ground Rules 11

r i u m f o r c e s at b o t h b r a c k e t s a r e also in t h e
s a m e d i r e c t i o n . E a c h t o o t h will feel t h e n e t re-
sult o r t h e s u m o f t h e f o r c e s p r e s e n t ( F i g 14).
T h i s c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f a w i r e is s o m e t i m e s
r e f e r r e d to as a s t e p b e n d . A s t e p b e n d is b a -
sically two V - b e n d s c r e a t i n g m o m e n t s in t h e
s a m e d i r e c t i o n . W h e n t h e w i r e is p a s s i v e l y
placed over two adjacent brackets, the effects
of a step bend are created when the angle of
e n t r y o f t h e w i r e i n t o t h e b r a c k e t is in t h e s a m e
d i r e c t i o n at b o t h t e e t h ( F i g 14). I n c o n t r a s t to
V-bends, step bends have no important
c h a n g e s in t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e m o m e n t o r
the associated equilibrium forces created when
t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e s t e p is m o v e d m e s i o d i s t a l l y
b e t w e e n two brackets.X°

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