THE EFFECTS OF INTERBRACKET DISTANCE AND GABLE BENDS ON THE FORCE AND MOMENTS IN A SEGMENTED ARCH APPROACH: A NUMERICAL-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

The present paper verified the effect of the interbracket distance on the force system developed by orthodontic retraction springs with two delta geometries measured during space closure when spaces between teeth are present. By using a platform transducer, five different interbracket distances were tested. Also the finite element method was applied to know the von Mises stress during spring activation/deactivation process. It was concluded that the interbracket distance and spring geometry variables have not caused significant influence on the force system resulting from activations, but activation has produced a statistical difference.