Original Research
Keywords: Archwires, Copper NiTi, Gummetal, Intercanine arch width
Year : 2025 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 4 | Page : 39-51
Comparison of Efficacy and Rate of Alignment using Three Different Arch wires: A Randomized Clinical Trial
B Edward Giftson Noah1, S.D. Milling Tania2, S. Veerasankar3, Bevin Shaga3, Jebilla Pringle4, Razick Nishadh M4, Shahina Juneith4
1Postgraduate Resident, 2Professor, 3Associate Professor, 4Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Rajas Dental College, Rajas Dental College And Hospital, Thirurajapuram, Kavalkinaru Jn, Tirunelveli - 627 105
Address for Correspondence:
Dr. S.D. Milling Tania,
Professor and HOD,
Rajas Dental College And Hospital
Thirurajapuram, Kavalkinaru Jn, Tirunelveli - 627 105
Email ID - drtania_d@yahoo.co.in
ABSTRACT
Aim: To compare the rate and efficiency of Niobium-Titanium-Tantalum Zirconium archwire (Gummetal), Copper Nickel Titanium archwire (CuNiTi) and conventional nickel titanium archwire (NiTi) on initial alignment.
Materials And Methods: A single-center randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 33 fully erupted dentition patients and Little’s Irregularity Index (LII) >2 mm. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups (n=11 each) treated with 0.014-inch NiTi, CuNiTi, or Gummetal archwires. Impressions were taken at baseline (T0) and at 3-week intervals for 4 times (T1–T4). LII, Intercanine width (ICW) and intermolar width (IMW) were measured and analyzed using SPSS v20.0 with Repeated Measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc, and Chi-square tests with p value <0.05 as statistical significance.
Results: All groups showed statistically significant reduction in LII from T0 to T4 (p<0.001). Group 1 showed a decrease from 3.76±0.75 to 1.02±0.53, Group 2 from 3.74±0.64 to 0.90±0.25, and Group 3 from 3.04±0.59 to 1.33±0.66. ICW increased significantly in all groups: Group 1 from 25.93±2.86 to 26.58±2.78 (p<0.001), Group 2 from 25.59±2.68 to 26.64±2.76 (p < 0.001), and Group 3 from 25.79±2.86 to 26.52±2.83 (p=0.008). IMW changes were significant in Group 2 (40.76±2.66 to 41.11±2.63, p<0.001) and Group 3 (40.95±2.61 to 41.11±2.63, p<0.001), but not in Group 1 (41.01±2.64 to 41.08±2.62, p=0.136). Intergroup comparison revealed no statistically significant difference in LII, ICW, or IMW (p≥0.051).
Conclusions: CuNiTi and NiTi archwires were more effective in initial alignment and mild arch expansion than Gummetal, making them preferable for early orthodontic correction.
Keywords: Archwires, Copper NiTi, Gummetal, Intercanine arch width
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.
FUNDING
Nil.
How to cite this article: B Edward Giftson Noah, S.D. Milling Tania, S. Veerasankar, Bevin Shaga, Jebilla Pringle, Razick Nishadh M, Shahina Juneith.Comparison of Efficacy and Rate of Alignment using Three Different Arch wires: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Orthod Rehabil 2025; 16 (4): 39-51.