Orthodontic materials scientific and clinical aspects
Book review
For orthodontists, a good knowledge of the materials used is one of the keys to the mastery of their art. The movement of the teeth is induced by mechanical systems that use the plastic and elastic properties of many different types of wire. The orthodontic arch wires are, themselves, attached by metal or elastic ligatures whose mechanical properties must be known and understood by the practitioner who uses them. In addition, impression materials, bonding agents and cements are materials that...
For orthodontists, a good knowledge of the materials used is one of the keys to the mastery of their art. The movement of the teeth is induced by mechanical systems that use the plastic and elastic properties of many different types of wire. The orthodontic arch wires are, themselves, attached by metal or elastic ligatures whose mechanical properties must be known and understood by the practitioner who uses them. In addition, impression materials, bonding agents and cements are materials that are in daily use. The orthodontist must know about all their characteristics in order to use these materials wisely. This work will illuminate his way.
The two principal authors (W. Brantley and T. Eliades), assisted in their task by an international cast of co-authors, detail the mechanical properties of all materials used in orthodontics not only from a scientific but also from a clinical viewpoint. Therefore, the properties of orthodontic bonding agents are fully described, but the reader could equally read a chapter on the bonding of attachments to enamel and other materials (ceramic, composite resin, acrylic resin, metal). Biological aspects of bonding have not been overlooked ; the reader will find an interesting text on the prevention of decalcification.
Part of this work is devoted to techniques for the evaluation of materials in the laboratory.
One very interesting chapter describes the allergic reactions induced by materials, especially nickel chrome steel (brackets and extra-oral retainers) and acrylic resins but does not mention reactions to latex that could be induced by inter-maxillary elastics. These tissue reactions are sufficiently common to lead the manufacturers to produce non-allergenic orthodontic materials.
The purely scientific aspects cannot be in conflict with the clinical use of materials. The second nourishes the first. This work makes a link between the two and could help the student or the practitioner to understand the essentials of the subject.