Pulpal Blood Flow Changes Using SuperElastic 0.018-inch Nickel Titanium

Pulpal Blood Flow Changes Related to Using SuperElastic 0.018-inch Nickel Titanium as the First Orthodontic Alignment Archwire: A Prospective Clinical Trial

to record pulpal blood flow (PBF) changes associated with using 0.018-inch Nickel Titanium (NiTi) as the first alignment archwire during fixed orthodontic treatment.

Forty healthy patients with lower arch mild crowding with less than 2mm contact point displacement at any teeth were included. A split mouth study design was applied. Where each patient received 2 archwire sizes at one time joined in the midline by crimpable hook and applied in the lower arch.

Patients were assigned into one of 2 groups based on archwire sizes used. Group (1); 0.014-inch and 0.018-inch NiTi and Group (2); 0.016-inch and 0.018-inch NiTi. A Laser Doppler Flowmeter was used to measure PBF at different time intervals (T0-T5).

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 18-25 years
• Class I skeletal malocclusion
• Mild lower arches crowding.
• Contact point displacement less than 2 mm.
• No previous orthodontic treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Missing teeth
• Poor oral hygiene
• deep carious teeth
• history of previous trauma
• any medical conditions affecting blood vessels
• smokers