Abstract:
Although Thailand is the world’s largest producer and exporter of natural rubber,
Thai orthodontists have had to use imported orthodontic elastics. With the co-operation of
the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) and the Faculty of
Dentistry at Mahidol University, the first Thai orthodontic elastics have been produced in
2 types, no-color (Thai) and color-added (Thai-colored) elastics.
The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro mechanical properties of
Thai orthodontic elastic brands (Thai and Thai-colored) in comparison to imported ones
(Ormco and G&H) in 2 different size groups (1/4”, 4.5Oz and 5/16”, 4.5 Oz). The results
of this study showed that most of the elastics did not match the specified force index when
extended to the standard extension index of 3x internal diameter, except for the 1/4” Thaicolored
and the 5/16” G&H elastics. At an equivalent extension, the 1/4” Thai brands and
G&H elastics generated significantly higher force than the Ormco elastics and the 5/16”
elastics of Thai brands generated significantly higher force than the imported ones. There
were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) among all groups in breaking force and
maximum elasticity. For the 1/4” elastics, the G&H elastics had significantly higher
breaking force than other groups and the Thai brand of elastics had significantly lower
maximum elasticity than imported brands. For the 5/16” elastics, the Ormco elastics had
significantly lower breaking force than other groups and the G&H elastics had
significantly higher maximum elasticity than other groups.
The force relaxation patterns of all elastic brands were similar in both the static and
dynamic tests. The significant loss of force occurred immediately after the elastics were
stretched for 15 minutes then continued with slower rate for 2 hours and the force
continued to reduce gradually with minimal amount until the end of the 24-hour period.
The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) among all groups of elastics in force
relaxation over the 24-hour period. In the static test, the greatest percentage of force
reduction occurred within 15 minutes approximately 13.0-15.0% for Thai elastics and
11.0-13.0% for imported elastics and the force reduction of all elastics continued to
reduce to 17.0-19.0% at 2 hours. At 24 hours, the force reduction was approximately
20.0-23.0% for Thai elastics and was 23.4-25.0% for imported elastics. Dynamic test
caused more force loss than static test, the average force reduction was approximately
15.5-16.5% for Thai elastics and 15.4-16.0% for imported elastics at 15 minutes. The
force of all elastics groups reduced to 19.0-22.0% at 2 hours. The percentages of force
reduction at 24 hours were approximately 21.3-22.5% for Thai elastics and 24.0-26.8%
for imported elastics. Color adding did not affect the mechanical properties of Thai
elastics. The mechanical properties of the Thai elastics were comparable to those of the
imported elastics.