Abstract
The movement of mandibular teeth subjected to distal loads from an anchor screw, an orthodontic wire and brackets was investigated using a three-dimensional digital image correlation technique. The experimental model used consisted of the mandible, teeth, periodontal membranes, an orthodontic wire, brackets and an anchor screw. An orthodontic wire with a circular cross section was used. A force of 5.88 N was applied to the brackets bonded on the first and second premolars and the first molar. The direction of the force was set to 0º, 10º or 20º downward from the horizontal. Results indicated that the movement depended on the position and direction of the load. To distally move mandibular teeth connected by an orthodontic wire and brackets without inducing a large rotation or a large extrusion, a distal force directed about 10º downward from the horizontal at the positions of the second premolars is desirable.
