BIOMECHANIC

S: MAKES BIG
SIMPLE CONCEPTS

DIFFERENCE
 CONTENTS
Introduction
Definitions
Basic terminologies, mechanical concepts & principles
 Scalar & Vector
 Force ( F )
 Center of mass (c.M.)
 Center of resistance (cres)
 Center of rotation (crot)
 Moment ( m )
 Couple ( C )
 Moment of force (mf)

 Moment of couple (mc)

Tooth Movements
Static equilibrium
Force system- Determinate & Indeterminate
V bend mechanics
Analogies in orthodontics
Biomechanics - Levelling & Aligning
Biomechanics - Bite Opening
Biomechanics - Anchorage & Space closure
Biomechanics - Fixed Functional Appliance
Biomechanics - TADs
Conclusion
References
 DEFINITIONS

 Mechanics - Discipline that describes the effect of

force on bodies

 Biomechanics- Science of mechanics in relation to

biological system.

Burstone, AJO 2000

 NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION

LAW OF INERTIA

An object at rest tends to stay at

rest and an object in motion tends
to stay in motion unless acted upon
by an unbalanced force.

5
LAW OF ACCELERATION

Force equals mass times

acceleration.

F = ma

6
 LAW OF ACTION & REACTION

• For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Book to Table to
earth book

7
 MECHANICAL CONCEPTS IN ORTHODONTICS

 SCALARS
have a definite magnitude but do not have a direction

 VECTORS
have both magnitude and direction.

8
 FORCE

• FORCE is an act upon a body that changes or tends to change the state of
rest or the motion of that body.
• VECTOR QUANTITY
1gm = 0.00981 N (or) 1N = 101.937gm
• F=MXA
• UNIT - NEWTONS (N)
9
GRAMS.
REPRESENTED
AS ARROW.

1. Point of
application

2. Line of action

3. Direction
sense
4. Magnitude
10
COMPONENTS & RESULTANT OF ORTHODONTIC FORCE SYSTEM

11
 LAW OF TRANSMISSIBILITY
“When considering the external effects of a force on a rigid body the force may
be considered to have a point of application anywhere along its line of action.”
12
 SIGN CONVENTION

• ANTERIOR FORCE- POSITIVE

• POSTERIOR FORCE - NEGATIVE
• LATERAL FORCE- POSITIVE
• MEDIAL FORCE - NEGATIVE
• MESIAL FORCE- POSITIVE
• DISTAL FORCE - NEGATIVE
• BUCCAL FORCES- POSITIVE
• LINGUAL FORCE – NEGATIVE
• EXTRUSIVE FORCES-POSITIVE
• INTRUSIVE FORCE - NEGATIVE

Burstone CJ, koenig HA. Force systems from ideal arch vol.65, No. 3 Am J orthod March 1974, vol.65, No. 3
CENTRE OF MASS : It is a single point within it where all of its
mass is concentrated.
CENTRE OF GRAVITY : It is same as centre of mass but it is
seen only in conditions where gravitational pull is present
CENTRE OF RESISTANCE:

• It can be defined as a point at which resistance to movement

is concentrated.
The center of resistance for a single rooted tooth estimated by different
authors is;
 At 50% of root length – Proffit, Nikoli
 Between 50% to 30% of root length – Smith and Burstone.
 At 33% of root length – Burstone
 Between 25% to 33% root length – Nanda
• Centre of resistance of multirooted tooth lies just above the
• Bifurcation  Nanda
• Trifurcation Worms, Isaacson & Speidel

• Centre of resistance of whole dentition lies between the premolar roots.

18
 Periodontally Root resorption
compromised

When the periodontal support reduces with the advancing age, or if the
root length diminishes on account of root resorption, the C' Res' will shift.
• The centre of resistance of nasomaxillary complex lies in the
area of posterosuperior aspect of zygomaticomaxillary suture
 CENTRE OF ROTATION

 Center of rotation may be defined as a point about which a body

appears to have rotated, as determined from its initial to final positions.

Centre of rotation
CENTERS OF ROTATION DO Type of tooth Position of center of
NOT NEED TO BE ALONG movement rotation
LONG AXIS OF A TOOTH
Translation Infinity
HURD AND NIKOLAI (AM J Uncontrolled tipping Slightly apical to the
ORTHOD. 1976) have proposed that a center of resistance
center of rotation for combined vertical
and transverse movement can be defined Controlled tipping Apex
as the point which moves the least on Root movement Incisal (occlusal) edge
the line of the long axis of the tooth.

FORCE SYSTEM & CENTER OF ROTATION

If force passes through center of resistance –Center of rotation is at infinity

22
Center of resistance =Center of rotation then couple exists
 MOMENT
M=Fxd

It is defined as the product of

d the force times the
perpendicular distance from the
point of force application to the
F
centre of resistance.

23
Unit - Gram millimeters.
 MOMENT OF FORCE

Its the tendency to rotate

resulting from a force not acting
through the center of resistance.

FORCE

MOMENT 24
 MOMENT OF FORCE – CLINICAL POINT

d
M=Fxd

M
DIRECTION OF MOMENT OF FORCE

AJO-DO Volume 1984 Apr (294 - 307): Mechanics of tooth movement – Smith and Burstone.
 TOOTH MOVEMENTS
 Rotation
 Tipping
 Torque

1st order 2nd order 3rd

order
 COUPLE

 A Couple consists of two forces of equal magnitude, with

parallel but non-collinear lines of action and opposite senses.

 Unit - gram-millimeters. D

F
 Direction of rotation is determined by following the direction
of either force around the center of resistance to the origin of
the opposite force.

29
 Moment of a couple

 It is the moment created when two forces equal in

magnitude and opposite in direction, act on a body

30
 Additive Couple

d1

d2
M1 M2
F

M1 = F x d1 (100gm x 1.5mm = 150gm.mm)

+
M2 = F x d2 (100gm x 1.5mm = 150gm.mm)
= net moment of couple
Moment of a couple = F x d ( d1+ d2)
= 100gm x 3mm = 300gm.mm
 Subtractive Couple

M2
F
d1

d2

F
M1 M1 = F x d1 (100gm x 5mm = 500gm.mm)
- ( minus)
M2 = F x d2 (100gm x 2mm = 200gm.mm)
Net Moment of a Couple
= F x d (5mm – 2mm = 3mm)
= (100gm x 3mm = 300gm.mm)
FIRST ORDER COUPLE

 To achieve a first-order couple, the

wire is angulated to produce equal
magnitudes of force at the mesial and
distal aspects of the bracket in
opposite, buccal and lingual directions.

33
 Second order Couple

 To create a second-order couple, the

wire produces equal but opposite intrusive
and extrusive forces at the mesial and
distal aspects.

34
Third order Couple

 A twist or torque in the wire will

produce intrusive and extrusive forces
that are equal and opposite acting at the
buccal and lingual aspects of the bracket
slot to produce a third-order couple.

35
Warren springs for lingual or labial root torque

36
 Moment to Force Ratio

 It is the relationship between the force and counter balancing

moment that determines the type of tooth movement.

 Moment to force ratio is measured in mm.

 Force applied on a tooth

Crown moves more than root

To maintain the inclination

Of the tooth

Overcome the moment

created by the force applied
to the crown

Counter moment 38
 To maintain axial inclination

Apply the force close to Create a 2nd moment

the center of resisitance In the direction opposite
to the first

Practical difficulty Counter moment

Power arm Tooth remain upright

And move bodily 39
PRINCIPLE OF POWER ARM

40
 TYPES OF TOOTH
MOVEMENT -
POSITION OF THE
CENTER OF ROTATION
 UNCONTROLLED TIPPING

 Uncontrolled tipping - slightly

apical to the centre of resistance
 Simple Force- Elastic chain or coil
springs on round wire.
 M/F= 5:1
 Desirable in Class II div 2 & Class
III patients with excessively
upright incisors that need flaring
 CONTROLLED TIPPING

 Controlled tipping - Apex of the root

 Concentration of forces at cervical area-
timely tooth movement
 M/F= 7:1
 Desirable in Protrusive incisors (Root apex
in good position)
 TRANSLATION

 Translation - lies at infinity

 Equivalent force system at Cres-
Pure Force
 M/F= 10:1
 ROOT MOVEMENT

 Crown is stationary- F & M cause only

root movement
 Root movement or torquing - Incisial
or occlusal edge
 M/F= >10:1
 Undermining Resorption- Slow moment
 Advantageous- Augments Anchorage
 Lingual Root Movement– large forces
may cause Row boat Effect
 ROTATION

 Rotation – Requires a couple

 Centre of rotation is at the centre of resistance
 Clinically- Rotated tooth
 STATIC EQUILIBRIUM

Requirements for static equilibrium:

DETERMINATE & INDETERMINATE FORCE SYSTEMS

Force systems can be defined as :

• Statically determinate – in which the moments and forces can be

easily discerned, measured and evaluated.

• Statically indeterminate – which are too complex for precisely

measuring all forces and moments involved in the equilibrium.
• DETERMINATE SYSTEMS in orthodontics are those in
which a couple is created at one end of an attachment, with
only a force at the other end.
• When the wire is tied into a bracket on both ends, a statically
indeterminate or two-couple system is created.

Utility arch
NO COUPLE APPLIANCE SYSTEM

B
C

Elastics stretched b/w two points  Equal and opposite force system
V BEND MECHANICS

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Creative wire bending the force system from
Step and V-bends. Am.J Orthod Dentofac Orthop 1988;93:59-67. 52
 CENTERED V BEND

 Moments created - Equal in magnitude; acting in opposite direction

 Sum total of the two moments - zero. 53

 OFF - CENTERED V BEND

 Moments created - Unequal; acting in opposite direction

 Bracket A - Greater moment

 Bracket B – Reduced moment

54
 V BEND AT 1/3RD OF THE DISTANCE

Burstone and Koenig stated that when V bend reaches 1/3 rd

distance b/w two brackets.
 Bracket A - Increased moment
 Bracket B – Moment becomes zero

55
 V BEND AT < 1/3RD OF THE DISTANCE

 Moments created - unequal; acting

in same direction as bracket A
 Bracket B – Moment again created
 Equilibrium moment & Vertical
forces producing them are
correspondingly larger.

56
 TWO SYMMETRICALLY PLACED
OFF-CENTERED BENDS

 Moments created - equal in magnitude; acting opposite in direction

 Sum total of the two moments - zero.

57
STEP BEND

 Equal moments will develop at both the

brackets and these will be in the same
direction.

 Sum total is equal to twice the moment at

any one bracket.

 In order to balance this large moment,

vertical forces will arise automatically to
create a moment in the opposite direction
so as to establish equilibrium in the entire
system

58
 THE SIX GEOMETRIES
GEOMETRY 1

59

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. American journal of orthodontics. 1974 Mar 1;65(3):270-89.
 GEOMETRY 2

60

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. American journal of orthodontics. 1974 Mar 1;65(3):270-89.
 GEOMETRY 3

61

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. American journal of orthodontics. 1974 Mar 1;65(3):270-89.
 GEOMETRY 4

62

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. American journal of orthodontics. 1974 Mar 1;65(3):270-89.
 GEOMETRY 5

63

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. American journal of orthodontics. 1974 Mar 1;65(3):270-89.
 GEOMETRY 6

64

Burstone CJ, Koenig HA. Force systems from an ideal arch. American journal of orthodontics. 1974 Mar 1;65(3):270-89.
 ANALOGIES
IN
ORTHODONTICS
65
CUE BALL CONCEPT - MULLIGAN

Force through Cres- No Rotation

Force off centre- Rotation + Forward movement

Equal & Opposite force (Couple)- Pure Rotation

66
CUE BALL CONCEPT - MULLIGAN

67

JCO, Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

 DIVING BOARD CONCEPT

A When the length of the diving B The same force acting at

board is doubled, only 1/8th the twice the length will produce 8
force is required to produce the times as much deflection.
same amount of deflection.

With a constant tipback angle, the

deflection doubles, as the wire length
doubles, the force is reduced to 1/4th. 68
69
70
71
72
73
PHASES OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

Stage 1: Leveling and aligning

Stage 2 : Space closure

Stage 3: Finishing and detailing

74
 BIOMECHANICS IN INITIAL
LEVELING AND ALIGNING

Under sized round wires

75
Side effects in the second
order straight wire mechanics
ROLLER COSTAR EFFECT

76
 CHOICE OF ARCHWIRES

 Low load deflection wires

 In case, cuspids need to slide over larger distances to open
up spaces SS arch wires are preferable.
 Only after previous archwires express its full potential one
should go to next wire.
 Super elastic wires should be ligated with SS ligatures if
not elastic modules are used
MBT Anchorage control during leveling and aligning with a
preadjusted appliance systemJ Clin Orthod .1991 Nov ;25(11);687-96

Tips for reducing complexity of biomechanics during aligning phase:

 Always prefer to use round arch wires (Low modulus)
 Should be aimed at simple crown tipping -PROFFIT 77
 Address one plane at a time -NANDA
 ANCHORAGE CONSIDERATIONS
DURING LEVELING AND ALIGNING

ANCHORAGE CONTROL IN HORIZONTAL PLANE

Lacebacks for A/P canine control

• Lacebacks are .010 or .009 ligature wires which extend from

the most distally banded molar to the canine bracket.

• They restrict canine crowns from tipping forward during

leveling and aligning.

78
Bendbacks for A/P Incisor control
•Bending the arch wire immediately behind the most
distally banded posterior tooth is called Cinching.
•It serves to minimize forward tipping of incisors.

79
 CONTROL OF POSTERIOR SEGMENTS
• More requirement in upper arch than lower.
• UPPER ARCH
Head gears – Most Effective
TPA – Moderate Anchorage
Nance holding arch

• LOWER ARCH
Lingual arch
Lip bumper
Class III elastic and head
gear
80
ANCHORAGE CONTROL IN TRANSVERSE PLANE

• Maintenance of upper and lower inter canine

width
• Correction of molar cross bite if present
• RME
• QUAD HELIX
• TPA.

81
ANCHORAGE CONTROL IN VERTICAL PLANE

 Upper 2nd molars not initially banded to minimize extrusion

of these teeth
 If palatal bars are used, they are designed to lie away from
the palate by approximately 2mm. So that the tongue can
exert a vertical intrusive effect on these teeth.

82
 •.

MOLAR CONTROL
 Rotation correction required  Toe in & Toe out
 Represent the short section of the wire of the off center bend
 Bends located just mesial to the molars

•.

Toe in corrects the mesial Toe out corrects the distal

in or distal out rotation in and/ mesial out rotation
83
with horizontal buccal with horizontal lingual force
force Thomas F Mulligan. Molar control- J Clin OrthoD
Molar In bend for the Molar Out bend for the  Step bend for the mesio
lingual displacement buccal displacements lingulal rotation with a
lingual displacement.

 When 2 bends are involved

84
and each bend produces a
Thomas F Mulligan. Molar control- J Clin OrthoD force in the same direction
 ROTATIONS

Using the double-backs of a TPA to correct the molar rotation bilaterally

85

Rebellato .J.Two couple orthodontic system transpalatal arches Sem Orthod 1995:1(1)44-54
Transverse expansion is expected in
mesiopalatally rotated molars when a
86
straight wire is inserted in their tubes
87
BIOMECHANICS IN BITE OPENING

Palatal root torque

“Rocking chair design”

Lingual root torque
Detorqued

88

Mc'Laughlin RP, Bennett JW, Trevisi HL. Systemized Orthodontic

treatment mechanics.Mosby- Elsevier, 2005.pp 129-160.
 UTILITY ARCHES
Standard utility arch Retraction utility arch

Activated Retraction Protraction utility arch

utility for further 89
intrusive action
McNamara JA. Utility arches. Journal of clinical orthodontics: JCO. 1986 Jul;20(7):452-6.
BURSTONE INTRUSION ARCH

Burstone CJ. Deep overbite correction

by intrusion. Am J Ofthod 1977;72:1-22.

THREE PIECE INTRUSION ARCH

Shroff B, Lindauer S J, Burstone C J, Leiss J B Segmented
90
approach to simuttaneous intrusion and space closure:
biomechanics of the three piece base arch appliance.Am I
Orthod and Dentofacial Orthop, 1995; 107:136- 143
 91

Vanden Bulcke M, Burstone CJ, Sachdeva RC, Dermaut LR. Location of centers of resistance for anterior
teeth during retraction usinglaser reflection technique. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1987 ;9t:375-84
Variation of Burstone's intrusion arch  Connecticut intrusion arch by Nanda
 Made by CNA  16 x 22 and 17 x 25
 Forces : CNA arch > Niti arches
 Advantage: Can be adjusted as per the requirements.
92

Nanda R, Marzban R, Kuhlberg A.The Connecticut

Intrusion Arch.J Clin Orthod, 1998 Dec;32(12):7 08- 1 5.
 93

Mulligan TF. Common sense mechanics. Phoenix,Az:CSM. 1982

 BIOMECHANICS IN ANCHORAGE

Average root suface areas of Anchorage preparation as proposed

different teeth in square mm by Tweed.
94
“TUG OF WAR” “DISTAL DRIVING OF MOLARS”
Tweed C 1966 Clinical orthodontics. C V Mosby Co., St Louis. Vol. l, pp 7-12
BIOMECHANICS IN SPACE CLOSURE
Anchorage may be defined as the amount of movement of the posterior
teeth (molars, premolars) to close the extraction space

Group A anchorage
- Critical

Group B anchorage
-Moderate

Group C anchorage
-Mild 95
Two Schools of Thoughts (for retraction of anteriors following
Premolar extraction)

Separate
canine
retraction En mass
& retraction
anterior
retraction

96
WALKING MOMENT OF CANINE

Levelling effect

97
98
99
 BIOMECHANICS IN
FIXED FUNCTIONAL

Direct attachment of spring Outrigger Design in which the 100

(FFA) to the archwire spring is indirectly attached to the
lower arch using a bypass wire.
 Distal force on upper molars
cause distal-in rotation

Effects of FFA in Sagittal direction

(Upper arch is not consolidated)
Buccal flaring of upper molars seen
101
in the
transverse direction.
Lower arch experiences an expansion effect
 Entire upper arch (except second
Effects in the sagittal plane when FFA used molar) experiences intrusive effect
in consolidated upper and lower arches
102
ALVEOLAR BENDING BY SWINDLING
Changes in the occlusal perspective Transverse changes
when arches are consolidated
103
TADs -BIOMECHANICS

104
 Crossbite elastics to correct posterior crossbite

105
Extrusive effect of elastic must be considered Microimplant anchorage can be used to
when treating high-angle patients. avoid extrusive effect of crossbite elastic
 Crossbite elastics to correct Scissor bite

Crossbite elastics used to correct Microimplant anchorage helps counteract

scissors bite cause molar extrusion extrusive effect of the crossbite elastics
while helping to correct the scissors106
bite.
 TADs in Deep bite correction

TAD is inserted between incisors & force is applied Incisor protrusion is also expected
to archwire to obtain selective incisor intrusion.

107

In severe deep bite, two TADs can be inserted Correct transverse cant of the
between the lateral incisors and canines maxillary occlusal plane
 TADs for Molar Intrusion

Molar intrusion using TPA & TADs

108

Molar intrusion using two TADs

 Molar protraction using microimplant anchorage

Coil spring force can be applied between

Light force should be applied on lingual
the TAD inserted anteriorly and the power
aspect to prevent molar rotation
hook on the molar to obtain translation.

109
 TADs in Molar uprighting

Uprighting Impacted molar Open space for prosthetic purpose

110

Molar uprighting To prevent the rowboat effect

 CONCLUSION
Optimization of tooth movement
- Application of correct forces and moments are necessary for full
control of tooth movement.

Anchorage control
- Anchorage control is based on combining force levels and
selective moments.

 Selection of wires, brackets and clinical devices

– Individualize their selection for patients.

Charles Burstone; Orthodontics as a science: The role of biomechanics. 111

AJODO Volume 117, Number 5,May 2000
 Development and use of scientific terminology
– Universal biomechanical language; communication with
other disciplines

Minimization of tissue destruction

– Evaluating and controlling optimum force levels.

Reduction in need of patient cooperation

– Reduction of undesirable side effects; can minimize the use of
appliances (head gear, elastics) that require patient compliance.

Development and evaluation of new appliances

- use of fundamental biomechanical principles.

Charles Burstone; Orthodontics as a science: The role of biomechanics. 112

AJODO Volume 117, Number 5,May 2000
 REFERENCES
The Biomechanical foundation of clinical orthodontics – CJ Burstone & K Choy

Biomechanics in orthodontics – Michael R. Marcotte

Biomechanics and esthetics stratergies in clinical orthodontics – Ravindra Nanda

Biomechanics in Orthodontics Principles and Practice - Ram S. Nanda

Essentials of orthodontic biomechanics –Basic & Applied Vijay P. Jayadee

Contemporary Orthodontics – William R Proffit (6th Edition)

 Lindauer SJ : The basics of orthodontic mechanics. Semin Orthod 2001; 7: 2-15.

Lindauer SJ, Isaacson RJ, Britto AD : Three dimensional force systems from
activated orthodontic appliances. Semin Orthod 2001; 7: 207-214. 113
 Smith and Burstone. Mechanics of tooth movement AJO-DO Volume 1984
Apr (294 - 307)

 Burstone CJ, koenig HA. Force systems from ideal arch vol.65, No. 3 Am J
orthod March 1974, vol.65, No. 3

 Tanne K, et al: Moment to force ratios & the center of rotation. AJO 94:426-
431,1989

 Kusy RP, Tulloch JFC: Analysis of moment/force ratio in the mechanics of

tooth movement. AJO DO 90; 127-131,1986

 Burstone CJ, Koenig HA: Creative wire bending- The force system from step
& V bends. AJO DO 93(1):59-67,1988

 Charles Burstone; Orthodontics as a science: The role of biomechanics.

AJODO Volume 117, Number 5,May 2000
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