Os elásticos corrente estão presentes na ortodontia desde o início do século XX, e devido a sua importância na biomecânica ortodôntica a indústria vem aperfeiçoando suas propriedades. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar o remanescente de força, a deformação plástica e a embebição dos elásticos corrente ortodônticos, imersos em água destilada, durante um período de 4 semanas. Neste estudo foram selecionados elásticos corrente de 5 modelos comerciais, divididos em 2 grupos (100gf e 300gf), sendo que em cada grupo foi gerado 12 corpos de prova produzindo um total de 24 corpos de cada modelo comercial, totalizando 120 corpos de prova de elásticos corrente ortodônticos de quatro marcas comerciais ( American Orthodontics, Rocky Mountain, 3M Unitek e Morelli). Os elásticos corrente foram cortados padronizandoos em 6 módulos, pesados e medidos, e foram submetidos a um teste estático por um período de 4 semanas. Durante o teste, os elásticos foram armazenados em água destilada à 37ºC e estirados no simulador oral em distâncias que representavam 100gf ou 300gf. O remanescente de força foi mensurado em 6 intervalos de tempo (1 hora, 24 horas, 1 semana, 2 semanas, 3 semanas e 4 semanas) em uma balança digital modificada. Ao final da mensuração da quarta semana os elásticos foram retirados da balança modificada e, foram levemente secos em papel toalha e pesados individualmente em uma balança analítica. Em seguida foram medidos novamente utilizando um paquímetro digital. Para analisar os dados obtidos do remanescente de força, embebição e deformação plástica, foram realizadas análises de variância (ANOVA), e teste de Tukey (p<0,05) para identificar as diferenças entre os grupos. A carga inicial (100 e 300gf) foi estatisticamente significante no remanescente de força (p<0,05) e para o fenômeno da embebição não significante (p>0,05). Os elásticos da empresa 3M Unitek apresentaram os menores remanescentes de força e foram estatisticamente diferentes dos demais elásticos (p<0,05). Houve uma correlação moderada com (r=0,68) e p=0,03 indicando que quanto maior o ganho de massa (maior embebição), menor o remanescente de força. / The elastomeric chain (EC) are present in orthodontics since the beggining of the XX century, and due to its fundamental importance in orthodontic biomechanic, the industry has been perfecting it\'s properties and many studies have been done to understand them better. The objective of this research was to evaluate the remaining force, the plastic deformation and the sorption of the orthodontic EC, submerged in distilled water, during a period of 4 weeks. In this study 5 elastomeric chain commercial models were selected, divided in two groups (100gf and 300gf), and from each group 12 specimen were generated producing a total of 24 specimen of each commercial model. Totalizing 120 specimen of orthodontic EC of four commercial brands (American Orthodontics, Rocky Mountain, 3M Unitek and Morelli). For this study an oral simulator device was developed for activation of EC. EC were cut standardizing them in 6 modules, weighted and measured, and were submitted to a static test for a a period of 4 weeks. During the test, EC were stored in distilled water at 37ºC and stretched in distances that represented 100gf or 300gf. The remaining force was measured in 6 time intervals (1 hour, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks) in a modified digital scale. At the end of the measurement of the fourth week the elastics were removed from the modified scale and were dried slightly in paper towel and weighted individually in an analytic scale. Next, they were measured again using a digital pachymeter. To analyze the data obtained of the remaining force, soaking and plastic deformation, variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey test (p<0,05) were performed to identify the differences between groups. The initial load (100 and 300gf) was statistically significant on remaining force (p<0,05), and for the soaking phenomenon non significant (p>0.05). EC of the 3M Unitek company presented the smallest remaining force.l and were statistically different from the other elastics (p<0,05). There was a moderate correlations with (r=0,68) and p=0,03 indicating that the bigger the weight gain (more soaking), the smaller the remaining force.

Os elásticos corrente estão presentes na ortodontia desde o início do século XX, e devido a sua importância na biomecânica ortodôntica a indústria vem aperfeiçoando suas propriedades. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar o remanescente de força, a deformação plástica e a embebição dos elásticos corrente ortodônticos, imersos em água destilada, durante um período de 4 semanas. Neste estudo foram selecionados elásticos corrente de 5 modelos comerciais, divididos em 2 grupos (100gf e 300gf), sendo que em cada grupo foi gerado 12 corpos de prova produzindo um total de 24 corpos de cada modelo comercial, totalizando 120 corpos de prova de elásticos corrente ortodônticos de quatro marcas comerciais ( American Orthodontics, Rocky Mountain, 3M Unitek e Morelli). Os elásticos corrente foram cortados padronizandoos em 6 módulos, pesados e medidos, e foram submetidos a um teste estático por um período de 4 semanas. Durante o teste, os elásticos foram armazenados em água destilada à 37ºC e estirados no simulador oral em distâncias que representavam 100gf ou 300gf. O remanescente de força foi mensurado em 6 intervalos de tempo (1 hora, 24 horas, 1 semana, 2 semanas, 3 semanas e 4 semanas) em uma balança digital modificada. Ao final da mensuração da quarta semana os elásticos foram retirados da balança modificada e, foram levemente secos em papel toalha e pesados individualmente em uma balança analítica. Em seguida foram medidos novamente utilizando um paquímetro digital. Para analisar os dados obtidos do remanescente de força, embebição e deformação plástica, foram realizadas análises de variância (ANOVA), e teste de Tukey (p<0,05) para identificar as diferenças entre os grupos. A carga inicial (100 e 300gf) foi estatisticamente significante no remanescente de força (p<0,05) e para o fenômeno da embebição não significante (p>0,05). Os elásticos da empresa 3M Unitek apresentaram os menores remanescentes de força e foram estatisticamente diferentes dos demais elásticos (p<0,05). Houve uma correlação moderada com (r=0,68) e p=0,03 indicando que quanto maior o ganho de massa (maior embebição), menor o remanescente de força. / The elastomeric chain (EC) are present in orthodontics since the beggining of the XX century, and due to its fundamental importance in orthodontic biomechanic, the industry has been perfecting it\'s properties and many studies have been done to understand them better. The objective of this research was to evaluate the remaining force, the plastic deformation and the sorption of the orthodontic EC, submerged in distilled water, during a period of 4 weeks. In this study 5 elastomeric chain commercial models were selected, divided in two groups (100gf and 300gf), and from each group 12 specimen were generated producing a total of 24 specimen of each commercial model. Totalizing 120 specimen of orthodontic EC of four commercial brands (American Orthodontics, Rocky Mountain, 3M Unitek and Morelli). For this study an oral simulator device was developed for activation of EC. EC were cut standardizing them in 6 modules, weighted and measured, and were submitted to a static test for a a period of 4 weeks. During the test, EC were stored in distilled water at 37ºC and stretched in distances that represented 100gf or 300gf. The remaining force was measured in 6 time intervals (1 hour, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks) in a modified digital scale. At the end of the measurement of the fourth week the elastics were removed from the modified scale and were dried slightly in paper towel and weighted individually in an analytic scale. Next, they were measured again using a digital pachymeter. To analyze the data obtained of the remaining force, soaking and plastic deformation, variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey test (p<0,05) were performed to identify the differences between groups. The initial load (100 and 300gf) was statistically significant on remaining force (p<0,05), and for the soaking phenomenon non significant (p>0.05). EC of the 3M Unitek company presented the smallest remaining force.l and were statistically different from the other elastics (p<0,05). There was a moderate correlations with (r=0,68) and p=0,03 indicating that the bigger the weight gain (more soaking), the smaller the remaining force.

Objective: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine if there is a difference in force decay between three sliding retraction methods under a standardized force delivery system (200 gm at 25 mm stretch) at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Background: In order to achieve proper esthetics, occlusion and stability, orthodontic treatment may require extractions. Elastomeric chains, Nickel Titanium (NiTi) coils, and active ligatures are commonly used to close these extraction spaces. Methods: Twenty samples of each retraction method (elastomeric chains, NiTi Coils and active ligatures) were evaluated under standardized conditions (200 gm at 25 mm). The force of each retraction method was measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks on a customized force gauge test stand (Shimpo FGV-1XY force gauge; Shimpo Instruments, Itasca, IL). Ten control samples were evaluated at 0 weeks and left un-stretched until the final measurement at 8 weeks. All samples were stored in a bath of Fusayama/Meyer artificial saliva (Pickering Laboratories, Mountain View, California) at 37°C in order to simulate the oral cavity. Results: At 2 weeks, the NiTi coils maintained their force while both the elastomeric chains and active ligatures experienced a statistically significant decrease in force over time. At 4, 6, and 8 weeks, the force of the elastomeric chains and active ligatures continued to decay and demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in force as compared to the NiTi coils and each other. At 8 weeks, the NiTi coils, elastomeric chains and active ligatures maintained 94.0%, 66.8% and 50.9%, respectively. This signifies a hierarchy of force decay with NiTi coils maintaining the largest amount of force, followed by the elastomeric chains and then the active ligatures. Conclusion: There is a significant difference in the amount of force decay of the three retraction methods over time under a standard initial force delivery of 200 gm over a 25 mm stretch. NiTi coils provide the light and constant force desired for efficient and biologically compatible tooth movement. The elastomeric chains maintained a larger amount of force than expected and have proven to achieve comparable tooth movement to NiTi coils in clinical studies. Active ligatures do not appear to be an effective means of force delivery. A force gauge is recommended to evaluate all forces placed clinically.