%0 Journal Article
%T Comparison of changes in irregularity and transverse width with nickel-titanium and niobium-titanium-tantalum-zirconium archwires during initial orthodontic alignment in adolescents: A double-blind randomized clinical trial
%A Barrett Nordstrom
%A Do-Gyoon Kim
%A F. Michael Beck
%A Henry W. Fields Jr.
%A Teruko Takano-Yamamoto
%A Toru Deguchi
%A Toshihiro Shoji
%A W. Cameron Anderson
%J -
%@ 1945-7103
%D 2018
%R https://doi.org/10.2319/061417-393.1
%X ABSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of this prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was to compare the clinical efficiency of nickel-titanium (NiTi) and niobium-titanium-tantalum-zirconium (TiNbTaZr) archwires during initial orthodontic alignment. Materials and Methods: All subjects (ages between 12 and 20 years) underwent nonextraction treatment using 0.022-inch brackets. All patients were randomized into two groups for initial alignment with 0.016-inch NiTi archwires (n = 14), or with 0.016-inch TiNbTaZr archwires (n = 14). Digital scans were taken during the course of treatment and were used to compare the improvement in Little's Irregularity Index and the changes in intercanine and intermolar widths. Results: There was approximately a 27% reduction in crowding during the first month with the use of 0.016-inch TiNbTaZr (Gummetal) wire, and an additional 25% decrease in crowding was observed during the next month. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups in the decrease in irregularity over time (P = .29). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the changes in intercanine and intermolar width (P = .80). Conclusions: It can be concluded that Gummetal wires and conventional NiTi wires possess a similar ability to align teeth, and Gummetal wires have additional advantages over conventional NiTi, such as formability and use in patients with nickel allergy.
%K Orthodontic arch wire Irregularity index Randomized clinical trial
%U http://www.angle.org/doi/abs/10.2319/061417-393.1