J. Biomechanics Vol. 22, No. 611, pp. 637647, 1989.

OOZL-PZPa/89
13.00+.00
c 1989 Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain

A PARAMETRIC STUDY OF THE FORCE/MOMENT

SYSTEMS PRODUCED BY T-LOOP RETRACTION SPRINGS

M. G. FAULKNER,*P. FUCHSHUBER,*D. HAeERsToCKt and A. MIODUCHOWSKI*

*Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. Canada: tSuite
520, 11044-82Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta,Canada

Abstract-This study considers the effectsof several parameters on the force/moment systems produced by
T-loop retraction sp’rings.The springs are studied by using the finite element method and by experimentally
measuring the forces and moments from the various designs. The results show that varying the spring height
can produce larger moment to force ratios as the height increases. Changes in the preactivation bends result
in unsymmetric moment characteristics and also produce large intrusive/extrusive forces. The addition of
helices at the bends did little to alter the springs’ mechanical characteristics.

INTRODUCTION (Haack and Weinstein, 1963; Christiansen and Bur-

The segmented arch technique for space closure gen-
erally uses a retraction spring which applies a
force/moment (couple) system to portions of the den-
tal arch consisting of a front or anterior segment
(usually incorporating cuspid and incisor teeth) and a
rear or posterior segment (incorporating molar and
bicuspid teeth). The spring is placed between these
two segments to close space created by the selective
extraction of certain teeth, usually first or second
bicuspids. If the incisor teeth are considerably crowd-
ed then the cuspid is retracted posteriorly separately
to provide adequate arch length for the alignment of
the front incisor teeth. Following the alignment of all
cuspid and incisors these teeth are retracted en masse
in an anterior segment until all of the extraction site
space is closed. One technique used to accomplish this
movement is shown in Fig. 1.
In Fig. l(a) a retraction spring is shown attached to
the auxillary tubes of a bracket on a first molar
(posterior segment) and a bracket on a cuspid (an-
terior segment) for en masse retraction. The initial T-
loop design was preactivated by bending and then
activated to produce a certain force system at the
attachment points.
A tooth or group of teeth in a segment possesses a
center of resistance defined as that point at which an
applied force would produce translation. For a single
rooted tooth this center of resistance is approximately
0.33 of the distance from the alveolar crest to the apex
of the root (Burstone, 1962,1984; Smith and Burstone,
1984). As seen in Fig. l(b) an average incisor possesses
a center of resistance approximately 10 mm away
from the bracket slot. Since the clinician must confine
the application of the force system to the bracket
attached to the tooth he requires the precise metering
of the forces and moments to achieve the desired
tooth displacement. The center of rotation describes
the point about which a body (such as a tooth) rotates
Received in final from 6 July 1988.
stone, 1969). If the clinician desires the incisor to be
retracted along the imaginary occlusal plane, displa-
cing it with a center of rotation at infinity (thereby
achieving translation) he would have to supply a M/F
ratio of 10/l at the bracket slot. This force system
would be equivalent to placing a single force at the
center of resistance. If the clinician desires a center of
rotation at the apex of the tooth root (controlled
tipping) or nearer the center of resistance (uncontrol-
led tipping) then he must produce a force system with
a M/F ratio less than 10/l. On the other hand if he
desires a center of rotation at the crown of the tooth
(root movement) then he requires a M/F ratio greater
than 10/l [see Fig. l(c)].
The T-loop design, shown in Fig. l(d), is very com-
monly employed to deliver the proper ratio of mo-
ment to force (M/F) necessary for the desired’ tooth
displacement. Before application, the spring geometry
is adjusted by adding certain bends to the design
(preactivation bends). The spring is then positioned
and activated between the cuspid and molar attach-
ment tubes (interbracket distance) to produce vari-
ations in the delivered force systems. Several of the
parameters of the T-loop including the spring height,
the placement of the spring within the interbracket
distance (clamping position), the amount of preactiv-
ation and axial activation can be changed to appreci-
ably alter the force/moment system delivered to the
arch segments. The aim of this study is to quantify the
effects of these parametric changes on the force/
moment system produced.
Previous investigations have considered the meas-
urement and prediction of the force/moment systems
from various orthodontic appliances. The exper-
imental apparatus developed by Solonche et al. (1977)
allowed limited measurements of the axial force
(along the line of direction of activation) and moments
perpendicular to the plane of the spring. These meas-
urements were in good agreement to the theoretical
predictions of Koenig et al. (1980) for non-preacti-
vated T- and rectangular loops over a range of axial

631
638 M.G. FAULKNER~CU~..

OP=Occlusal Plane
a b C=Alveolar Crest
M-Moment
F=Force (Axial)
A=Apex of Root
CR-Center Of Resistance

_.~

C
\
F
OP

(Mwng 1st Blcuspld)

12 mm
d
3mmL I----(
+ T f height (9 mm)

;k
C
A=Uncontrolled Tippmg
. =Center of Resistance
B=Controtled Tippmg
O=Center of Rotation
C=Translatbon
0 D=Root Movement
?”

M/F
<10/l 10/l >lO/l 0 2mm
Ratio ’
A B C D

Fig. 1. Space closure technique using a retraction spring. (a) Segmented arches with retraction spring,
(b) center of resistance position, (c) effect of moment to force ratio, (d) T-spring with no preactivation.

activations. This apparatus was further utilized in
several studies of T-loop springs including that of
Sachdeva (1983).
Another instrument for measuring the force system
produced by orthodontic appliances was designed
and constructed by Paquien (1978). This system was
built around a triangular base plate which resolved
the force system into three forces parallel and three
forces perpendicular to the edges of the equilateral
base. This apparatus was used in studies by Sullivan
(1982) for alignment wires by Lock (1980) for cuspid
retraction mechanisms.
The numerical studies used to evaluate appliances
have employed various techniques. Waters (1975)
idealized the appliance as an assembly of straight
beams then analyzed each segment by simple beam
theory. Yang (1973) outlined a finite element formu-
lation and this procedure was applied to a vertical
loop and to one with multiple helices by Yang and
Baldwin (1974). A finite difference scheme was used by
Koenig and Burstone (1974) for several appliances
including a vertical loop. More recently, Greif et al.
(1982) described a three dimensional finite element
approach in which orthodontic springs were modelled
with straight beam elements. Geometrically nonlinear
problems were analyzed using an updated lagrangian
incremental formulation and an iterative
(Newton-Raphson) procedure. This approach was
again applied to a vertical loop. The finite element
method has also been used to model the entire
tooth-appliance-alveolar structure (Miyakawa et al.,
1985). The interaction between the appliance and the
teeth has been modelled so that the initial movement
of the entire system could be evaluated.
The present study concentrates on the force/
moment systems produced by preactivated T-loop
springs. A preactivated spring, unlike the T-loop in
Fig. l(d), has additional bends with the resulting
shape as shown in Fig. 2(a). These springs are used by
first bringing them to a neutral position in which the
ends are colinear with no axial force applied to the
spring. In the neutral position there will be only a
couple applied at each end. To properly activate the
spring it is extended in the axial direction. The three
positions, undeformed, neutral and fully activated are
shown in Fig. 2(b) in a computer simulation for one-
half of a spring. The complexities involved in starting
from the undeformed shape and first searching for the
neutral position before considering the axial activ-
ation, caused the computer simulations to require
excessively long runs. For example, the simulation
shown with the calculations of forces and moments
required 26,4-node isoparametric elements. The total
of 79 nodes.[see Fig. 2(b)] took in excess of 1 h on the
AMDAHL 5870 Computer. The large amount of time
was made necessary because only small steps in the
forces could be taken to limit the rotations occurring
in each step. Because of the excessive computer time
 Force/moment systems of T-loop retraction springs
b
Fig. 2. Preactivated T-spring configurations. (a) Undefor-
med shape, (b) simulated undeformed, neutral and fully ac-
tivated shapes.
required for the preactivated springs, numerical re-
sults are compared to experimental data for only a
limited number of cases. More extensive experimental
investigations considered the effect of varying spring
height, preactivation angles, offsetting the clamping
positions and the use of additional spiral winds of
wire (helices) in the appliance.
NUMERICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The numerical analyses of the springs were con-
ducted using the ADINA finite element package
(1984). Geometrically nonlinear analyses were used
because of the large displacements and rotations
which can occur. Even though the displacements
could be relatively large, the strains were assumed to
be infinitesimal so that a linear constitutive relation-
ship was employed.
A numerical simulation was done for a preactivated
TMA (titanium molybdenum alloy) spring with a
0.017 x 0.025 in. (0.43 x 0.64 mm) cross-section. The
values of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio were
taken as 69 GPa and 0.31 respectively (see Goldberg
et al., 1983). The sequence modelled numerically in-
cluded clamping the spring at an interbracket distance
of 19 mm (each clamp was 2.0 mm from the activation
bends) deforming it to the neutral position (i.e. the
clamping positions have parallel slopes and there is
no axial load applied) and then activating it in the
axial (z) direction to increase the interbracket distance
by increments up to 7 mm. The program was run to
allow the calculation of the moments necessary to
maintain the neutral position. It was then restarted
639
and the prescribed activation of up to 7 mm (3.5 mm
to each half) was applied [see Fig. 2(b)].
EXPERIMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Force/moment/displacement apparatus
In order to evaluate the force/moment system pro-
duced by a particular spring, the experimental appar-
atus was designed to measure forces and moments at
one end while the activation (displacements) was
measured at the other. The basic design is shown
schematically in Fig. 3. The forces and moments are
determined using the cross resolver which is in turn
suspended from six pairs of ‘binocular’ load cells. The
output from these load cells is monitored by a multi-
channel strain indicator and converted into moments
and forces by an IBM personal computer. At the same
time the displacemets of the other end of the spring
were measured using digital micrometers.
The key component in the apparatus is the load
cells which were carefully machined to give the proper
outputs for the forces expected. These ‘binocular’
beams which have been briefly described by the
Measurements Group (1985), were matched into pairs
and the wire joining them pretensioned to approxi-
mately one-half the transducers’ linear range. The cell
was assembled by passing these wires through the
cross resolver and fixing the wire to the resolver.
Because of the load cell design, the displacement of
the resolver (and therefore the one end of the spring)
was less than 0.1 mm under maximum load. As the
deflection measured at the other end would be in the
order of 5 mm, the error in neglecting this movement
would be approximately 2%. A more complete de-
scription of the apparatus is given by Faulkner et al.
(1988).
The instrument was calibrated using dead weights
applied in the various directions. The apparatus was
able to measure forces up to 5 N with an accuracy of
3.6% and moments of 40 Nmm with an accuracy of
4.5%. The resolution of forces was 0.003 N in the y
direction and 0.005 N in the x and z directions. The
corresponding resolutions for moments are 0.06 Nmm
(y-axis) and 0.10 Nmm (x and z axes).
Parametric studies
In order to evaluate the effect of various parameters
on the force/moment system generated, four series of
preactivated springs were constructed from 0.017 x
0.025 in. TMA wire.
Series I: spring height variations. This series of
springs, shown in Fig. 4(a), varied in height from 5 to 8
mm before preactivation. With the exception of the
variation in spring height, the dimensions of the T-
springs before preactivation bends were incorporated
were identical to the spring of Fig. l(d). Each spring
was clamped at a distance of 2 mm from the activation
bends nearest the ends, deformed into the neutral
position and then activated to increase the inter-
640 M. G.
Fig. 3. Schematic and free-body diagram of measurement system.
b) Activation Angle Varlstions
w h=Bmm
m h=smm
d) Addition of Helicss
Fig. 4. Spring design variations evaluated. (a) Spring height
variations, (b) preactivation angle variations, (c) non-
centered bracket placement, (d) addition of helices.
bracket distance by 7 mm. Four tests were conducted
on each spring.
Series II: preactiuation angle variations. In this ser-
ies four springs based on variations of the 8 mm
design in series I were constructed as shown in
Fig. 4(b). The a and B angles, originally both 30”, were
varied to produce the four unsymmetric designs
shown. The springs were mounted and tested as out-
FAULKNER et at..
F2
lined above. However, as the springs were unsym-
metric, the moments created at the a and B ends were
different. This difference in moments meant that there
would also be forces perpendicular to the axial
(activation) direction and in the plane of the spring.
These forces, described as extrusive or intrusive forces,
are not present in symmetric designs.
Series III: non-centered bracket placement. It is also
possible to create a difference in the moments applied
at each end by clamping a symmetric spring un-
symmetrically. This will again give rise to the
intrusive/extrusive forces at each end. This effect was
evaluated by testing the 8 mm spring (series I)
clamped at a distance of 6 mm from the activation
bends and subsequently offset by 2 and 4 mm towards
the a side [see Fig. 4(c)]. Each of the springs were
tested four times in a manner similar to previous tests.
Series I VI addition of helices. The fourth parameter
evaluated was the addition of a single helix turn (inner
diameter 2 mm) at each of the upper ends of the 6 and
8 mm springs [Fig. 4(d)]. Each spring was tested four
times with each end clamped 2 mm from the activ-
ation bends. As these were symmetric springs the only
forces were axial.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results reported below include a comparison of
the finite element numerical procedure and the exper-
imental results for both non-preactivated and pre-
activated symmetric springs. Additional experimental
studies investigated the effect of the geometrical par-
ameters described above.
 Force/moment systems of T-loop retraction springs
---- Theoretical
g 1.5
; 1.0
0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5
DEFLECTION (mm)
Fig. 5. Comparison of previous and current force-moment relationships for non-preactivated
(a) force-deflection, (b) momenkieflection.
Comparison of numeiical and experimental investiga-
tion
A summary of the results for the non-preactivated
stainless steel spring [see Fig. l(d)] are given in
Fig. 5 (a), (b). This figure shows both the experimental
and numerical values from the current study as well as
those reported by Koenig et al. (1980) for a similar
spring. Also included are the results obtained using
the linear option in the ADINA package.
All of the results show good agreement for both the
force and moment over the activation tested (2.0 mm).
In fact, the linear approximation also gives satis-
factory results. This is to be expected as the deflections
and rotations for this case are relatively small. There
is some difference between the current study and those
previously reported by Koenig. It is possible that
these differences are at least partially due to variations
in the geometry between those previously reported
and the current results.
The second numerical experimental comparison
was done for the preactivated TMA spring shown in
Fig. 2(a). The spring was symmetrically clamped at an
interbracket distance of 19 mm, loaded with moments
until the neutral position was reached (the clamping
points now had the same slopes) and then activated
axially to increase the interbracket distance by 7 mm
from the neutral position. This sequence is shown in
Fig. 2(b). From the original position the clamping
points (on one-half the spring) rotated 67” to reach the
neutral position. During the same period the inter-
bracket distance on the same one-half spring de-
creased by 5.89 mm. The prescribed activation of
7 mm (3.5 mm on one-hall) was then applied. While
the numerical results showed a decrease of 5.89 mm,
the experimental results showed 5.7 mm. This means
that the spring tested is designed for an interbracket
distance (IBD) of 14.6 mm for a total activation of
7 mm. This is calculated by taking the original IBD of
19 mm and subtracting the decrease of distance
necessary to reach the neutral position (2 x 5.7 mm
641
- - - - Theoretical
2.0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
DEFLECTION (mm)
spring.
= 11.4 mm) then adding the activation required
(7 mm). The IBD is then (19.0- 11.4 + 7) 14.6 mm.
A linear numerical analysis of the displacement to
the neutral position predicted a displacement of only
2.76 mm compared to the nonlinear answer of 5.89. As
the rotations are now relatively large the linear anal-
ysis is no longer useful. From the neutral position to
complete activation resulted in the forces and mo-
ments shown in Fig. 6. While the nonlinear numerical
scheme shows an overprediction, the general agree-
ment is within 15% which is sufficient from a practical
viewpoint.
Parametric experimental studies
Series I: effects of spring height variations. The
shape of the 5,6,7 and 8 mm high springs is shown in
Fig. 4(a) while a summary of the results is given in
Fig. 7. Figure 7(a) shows the axial forces and 7(b)
shows the moments generated by the activations from
the neutral position of each spring. Generally, as the
height increases the force decreases much more rap-
idly than the moment. As an example at an activation
of 4 mm the force delivered by the 5 mm spring was
2.8 times that for the 8 mm spring while the corre-
sponding increase in moment was only a factor of 1.3.
Figure 7(c) shows the corresponding increase of the
moment to force (M/F) ratio as the height of the
spring is increased. The results also indicated that
the 8 mm spring has the highest ratio throughout the
entire range of activation. It is also seen that a M/F
ratio of z 10 is possible with an 8 mm spring even
with an activation of 7 mm. It should be noted that
these comparisons are based on the activations from
the neutral positions and do not consider that each
spring has a somewhat different activated IBD.
Table 1 is a summary of the M/F ratios and inter-
bracket distances (IBDs) at full activation (7 mm).
Series II: effect of preactivation angle variations. By
varying the preactivation angles, it is possible to pro-
duce different moments while essentially maintaining
 642 M. G. FAULKNERet al..

2.tI-
/
0 Experimental 0 Experimental
- Non-linear .L
- Non-linear
20
1.fi- /

E 1.0l-

0.5

a b
0 & I , 1 1 I I 0 I I 1 I I 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)

Fig. 6. Numerical and experimental results for preactivated T-spring. (a) Force-deflection from neutral
position, (b) moment-deflection from neutral position.

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DEFLECTION (mm)

50II-
Height
q =5mm
25 0 =6mm
40 -
A =7mm
P \ 0=6mm
E 20
z30

L
t
5 15
5
g
2 10
Lo
10
5

C
I I I I I 1
0 0
0123456 0 123456
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)

Fig. 7. Effect of spring height variation on force/moments produced. (a) Force-deflection, (b) moment-
deflection, (c) M/F ratio-deflection.

the same force vs axial activation relationship. Fur-
ther, if this variation is done in an unsymmetric man-
ner, the moments produced at each end will be differ-
ent. Because of differences in end moment these un-
symmetric springs generate forces perpendicular to
the axial ones but ones which are in the plane of the
spring. These additional forces would be responsible
for intrusive/extrusive forces applied to the arch seg-
ments which would not occur in symmetric designs.
The effects of unsymmetrically varying the preactiv-
 Force/moment systems of T-loop retraction springs 643

Table 1. Effect of spring height variations ation angles are illustrated in Fig. 8 for the four
springs shown in Fig. 4(b). For the four cases shown
Spring Fully activated M/F ratio
(all based on an 8 mm height), the axial force is shown
height IBD full activation
in Fig. 8(a). The relationships between the amount of
(mm) (mm) (mm)
activation and the axial force produced are all close to
5 17.5 5.22 each other and to the result shown earlier for the
6 18.5 6.48 8 mm spring.
7 19.0 8.23
9.47
The intrusive/extrusive forces (F,, in the x-
8 19.5
direction, Fig. 3) produced by these designs are shown

a Activation Angles
3.0 q :a:~“;p=300
0 =a=90”:/3=30”
aI(Y’60*;p=O*
0 = a = 600; p=_30”

o-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)

Activation Angles
0z~=M)“;p=300
o=cu=9o”;p=30”
a=(I=@)o:fl’OO
Activation Angles
q = (I = 600: PZ30”
0 = (x = 90”; P-30”
a=a=M)“;p=O’
0 = (I = 600; p-30”

0
o I 2 3
DEFLECTION
4 5
(mm)
6 7
-lo-
0 1 2 3
DEFLECTION
4 5
(mm)
6 7

__
Activation Angles
0 =a = 60’; B=30° Activation Angles
0 : (I = 90”; flE30” q =a=6OQ:6=3O0
a:*=60”;+00
60- * : 0 60”;
q p-30”

40-

20-

-i
OOW 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)
Fig. 8. Effect of preactivation angle variations on force/moments produced. (a) Axial forcedeflection,
(b) intrusive force (F&deflection, (c)moment (a end)deflection, (d) moment (b endweflection, (e) M/F
ratio (a end), (f) M/F ratio (/? end).
644 M. G. FAULKNER et al..

in Fig. 8(b). As the a and /I angles are changed, these
forces increase as the changes from the symmetric
situation increase. These intrusive/extrusive forces
tend to be approximately constant over the entire
range of activations. In fact, for the most nonsym-
metric design (a = W, fi = - 30”) these forces are large
enough to cause rapid intrusive/extrusive tooth move-
ment.
The moments produced at the a and /I ends are
shown in Fig. 8(c) and (d). In general, compared to the
symmetric case, altering the a angle mainly affects the
moments produced at the a end while changing fl
affects the /I moments. For example, for a = 60” and
90” the a moments increased 20 and 50% respectively
from the symmetric case. The change in the ,!I mo-
ments for these alterations [see Fig. 8(d)] was very

_._
Placement b
0 = centered
2.0 0 = 2 mm offset 0 = 2 mm offset
2.0
A = 4 mm onset A = 4 mm offset

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
K:Te7
OO 1234567
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)

0 1 2 3 4
DEFLECTION
5
(mm)
6 7
If__p--_r1234567
DEFLECTION (mm)

60
e

50- W-

&
40 -

30- 30 -

20 -

10 10 -

‘0 1 2 3 4 5 6 OO_
7
7
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)

Fig. 9. Effect of non-centered bracket placement on forces/moments produced. (a) Axial forc+deflection,
(b) intrusive forc+deflection, (c) moment (a end)-deflection, (d) moment (B endeeflection, (e) M/F ratio
(a end), (f) M/F ratio (/?end).
 Force/moment systems of T-loop retraction springs 645

Table 2. Effect of preactivation angles Table 3. Effect of non-centered brackets

Spring Fully M/F (a) M/F (8) Spring Fully M/F (a) M/F (B)
preactivation activated IBD Full Activation preactivation activated IBM Full Activation
angles (mm) (mm) (mm) angles (mm) (mm) (mm)

a=60 19.0 12.98 10.14 Centered 29.5 6.48 6.48

fl=30 2mm
a=90 15.0 16.98 10.21 Offset 29.5 4.92 9.29
8=30” 4mm
a=60 19.0 18.64 1.11 Offset 29.5 3.18 11.40
p=oo
a=60” 22.0 16.72 -2.18
p= -30”
Table 4. Effecectof added helices
minor. Nevertheless some change is noted in the Spring Fully activated M/F ratio
moment created at the constant angle side when the height IBM full activation
other was varied. (mm) (mm) (mm)
However, Fig. 8(d) shows the dramatic change in
6mm 19.0 6.48
the p moment which occurred as the p preactivation (No helices)
was changed. The combined effect of these alterations
6mm 20.0 6.11
on the M/F ratios produced is shown for the u and j (Helices)
ends respectively in Fig. 8(e) and (f). The fully activ- 8mm 19.0 9.47
ated IBD and M/F ratios are summarized in Table 2. (No helices)
Series III: effect of non-centered bracket placement. 8mm 20.0 10.40
As mentioned above, the effect of offsetting the spring (Helices)
will generate moments at the two ends which are
different and therefore will also result in
intrusive/extrusive forces. Figure 9(a) shows the minor CONCLUSIONS
change in the axial force to activation relationships
which occurs. The vertical forces (F,) are shown in The aim of this study has been to evaluate the force
Fig. 9(b) and again are essentially constant over the systems produced by T-loop retraction springs. Sev-
complete activation range. The forces resulting from a eral parameters in the T-loop design were evaluated
2 mm offset, are approximately 40% of the force de- to determine the effect they have on the overall forces
livered by a 4 mm offset. Figure 9(c) and (d) show the and moments produced. A limited numerical invest-
shifts in the moments at the LX and fl ends respectively. igation using a finite element package (ADINA) was
As the T-loop is moved toward the CL end clamp, the tl used to confirm the experimental results. The limited
moment increases and the p moment decreases. In fact computer use was a direct result of the large com-
for the 4 mm offset the /I moment is approximately puting time necessary to allow the large deflections to
one-third the a values. The effects of these offsets are be properly evaluated. None of the nonsymmetric
again evident from comparison of the M/F ratios at cases were numerically investigated for this reason.
the LX end [Fig. 9(e)] and the /I end [Fig. 9(f)]. As the The experimental results did yield several general
T-loop is offset towards the c1end the M/F increases conclusions regarding the effect of various geometric
while it decreases at the fi end. In summary, as the T- parameters. These include:
loop is offset closer to the attachment point a shorter (1) The increase in height of the spring resulted in a
and stiffer wire segment is created. This stiffer section smaller relative decrease in moment than in axial
is responsible for the production of a larger moment (horizontal) force. As a result, the M/F ratio increased
and proportionally larger M/F ratio. The asymmetry as the spring height increased.
in moments generated at the spring ends results in (2) Changing the preactivation angles did not make
intrusive/extrusive forces. These effects are summar- large changes in the axial force but did make sub-
ized in Table 3. stantial variations in the difference in moments cre-
Series IV: effect of added helices. The overall effect ated at the ends of the spring. The resulting
of the addition of the helices resulted in very little intrusive/extrusive forces are substantial and could
change in either the force or moment characteristics. cause intrusive/extrusive tooth movement.
The axial force, moments and M/F ratio for these Intrusive/extrusive forces were created only for the
springs are compared to the results given earlier for unsymmetric designs.
series I (Fig. 10). The addition of wire in the form of (3) By changing the position of the bracket attach-
helices to these areas of the spring was not as critical ments a symmetric spring design which is non-cen-
as expected and there would be little practical signifi- tered can also lead to intrusive/extrusive forces. Again
cance in incorporating them clinically. Table 4 illus- the axial forces are unaffected but the moments can be
trates the small variations found. altered by a significant amount.
646 M. G. FAULKNERet al..

Addition of helices
5.0 q =6mm
c
0 = 6 mm (helices)

0 = 6 mm (helices)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
DEFLECTION (mm)

Addition of helices
q =6mm
25
0 = 6 mm (helices)
A=6mm
0 = 8 mm (helices)

‘ilb,, A~~~~~~ 10 -

0 I I , , I I
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0123456
DEFLECTION (mm) DEFLECTION (mm)

Fig. f0. Effect of added helices on force/moments produced. (a) Force-deflection, (b) momentdeflection,
(c) M/F ratio.

(4) Helices added at the top of the spring have only
a small effect and therefore they have no practical
significance.
Other parameters also need to be investigated in
order to provide a more complete catalogue of their
effects on force and moment delivery. This includes
three-dimensional effects due to misalignment or
adjustments. In addition, the force/moment delivered
when the in vivo boundary conditions are used should
be tested to determine the actual clinical forces which
will be realized. These results would allow a better
understanding of the actual force/moment system de-
livered to the arch segments and allow the clinician to
better interpret the above results.
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