The Ground Rules for Arch Wire Design

Robert J. Isaacson, Steven J. Lindauer, and Moshe Davidovitch

All force systems applied to a tooth are composed of either single forces
and/or couples. The application of a force through the center of resistance of
a tooth will result in translation of the tooth. The application of a force to act
at points other than through the center of resistance of a tooth will produce
different tendencies for rotation. Tooth rotation resulting from the applica-
tion of a force always creates a simultaneous tendency to move the center
of resistance of a tooth in the direction the force is acting. In contrast, the
location of a couple on a tooth is irrelevant to the resulting tooth movement.
A couple can never move the center of resistance, and with a couple the
center of rotation and the center of resistance will always be coincident. The
equilibrium forces, associated with a moment of a couple, also are single-
point forces and can produce different tooth movements depending on
where they are applied. All tooth movement must be either translation and/
or rotation as defined at the tooth's center of resistance.
Copyright © 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company

e principles o f physical science that con- c e n t e r o f mass. T h e a n a l o g o u s p o i n t f o r an in

ol t o o t h m o v e m e n t are best a d a p t e d to vivo t o o t h is r e f e r r e d to as the c e n t e r o f resis-
o r t h o d o n t i c p r o c e d u r e s u s i n g s o m e basic, well- tance (CR,.~) (Fig 1). A n y fbrce a c t i n g t h r o u g h
established concepts. 1-4 the t o o t h ' s c e n t e r o f resistance causes the t o o t h
to translate.

Center of Resistance Tooth Movements

I m a g i n e a t o o t h as a motionless free b o d y in
space. A n y f o r c e d i r e c t e d t h r o u g h the tooth's
c e n t e r o f mass w o u l d cause the entire t o o t h to
m o v e in the d i r e c t i o n o f the a p p l i e d force. A
force acting t h r o u g h the c e n t e r o f mass results
in a m o v e m e n t w h e r e all points o n the t o o t h
m o v e the same a m o u n t in the s a m e direction.
T h i s type o f t o o t h m o v e m e n t is t e r m e d trans-
lation o r bodily m o v e m e n t in o r t h o d o n t i c s .
T h e in vivo t o o t h is n o t a free b o d y because
it is r e s t r a i n e d f r o m m o v e m e n t by its attach-
m e n t s to the s u p p o r t i n g tissues. T h e r e f o r e , the
p o i n t at which all resistance to d i s p l a c e m e n t
m a y be t h o u g h t o f as c o n c e n t r a t e d is n o t at its
From the Department of Orthodontics, School of Denti,~try,
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA.
Address reprint requests to Robert J. Isaaeson, DMD, MSD,
PhD, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Medical
College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box
980566, Richmond, VA 23298-0566.
Copyright © 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company
I073-8746/9510101-000155.00/0
W h e n a n a r c h wire applies a f o r c e to displace a
tooth, the t o o t h can r e s p o n d with o n l y trans-
lation, rotation, o r a c o m b i n a t i o n o f these two
m o v e m e n t s . T r a n s l a t i o n r e q u i r e s t h a t all
points o n the t o o t h m o v e the s a m e a m o u n t in
the s a m e direction. R o t a t i o n r e q u i r e s t h a t n o
two points o n the t o o t h m o v e the s a m e a m o u n t
in the s a m e direction. T h e t e n d e n c y to r o t a t e is
called a m o m e n t .
T h e g e n e r i c t e r m r o t a t i o n is u s e d with m o r e
specific o r t h o d o n t i c application: f i r s t - o r d e r ro-
tation o r r o t a t i o n a r o u n d a l o n g axis o f a t o o t h ,
w h i c h is r e f e r r e d to as r o t a t i o n in o r t h o d o n -
tics; s e c o n d - o r d e r r o t a t i o n o r r o t a t i o n a r o u n d
a faciolingual axis o f a t o o t h , w h i c h is r e f e r r e d
to as tip in o r t h o d o n t i c s ; a n d t h i r d - o r d e r rota-
tion o r r o t a t i o n a r o u n d a mesiodistal axis o f a
t o o t h , w h i c h is r e f e r r e d to as t o r q u e in o r t h -
odontics.
Force Systems
T h e f o r c e systems o f a r c h wires are a n a l y z e d in
t e r m s o f f u n d a m e n t a l b u i l d i n g blocks. T h e s e

Seminars in Orthodontics, Vol 1, No 1 (March), 1995: pp 3-11 3

4 Isaacson, Lindauer, and Davidovitch
Figure 1. A force ing through the center of re-
sistance will cause all points on the tooth to move the
same amount in that same direction. This is termed
translation and is possible in any direction.
b u i l d i n g blocks are e i t h e r single-point forces
a n d / o r pairs o f equal a n d o p p o s i t e noncollin-
ear forces called couples.
T h e S i n g l e - P o i n t Force
A single-point f o r c e a p p l i e d to a t o o t h has b o t h
a m a g n i t u d e a n d a direction. W h e n a single
f o r c e is d i r e c t e d t h r o u g h the CR~s, the t o o t h
feels a t e n d e n c y to translate o r to displace all
points o n the t o o t h the s a m e a m o u n t in the
s a m e d i r e c t i o n as the a p p l i e d f o r c e (Fig 1).
O n l y forces are c a p a b l e o f m o v i n g the CR~S o f
a tooth.
C o m m o n l y , a single-point force c a n n o t be
a p p l i e d to act directly t h r o u g h the CR~ a n d
m u s t be a p p l i e d at the bracket. W h e n a force
does n o t act t h r o u g h the CR~ ~ o f a tooth, the
t o o t h rotates (Fig 2). T h i s r o t a t i o n can be de-
scribed two d i f f e r e n t ways. F r o m o n e perspec-
tive, the CRe~ m o v e s in the d i r e c t i o n o f the line
o f the force, w h e r e a s the t o o t h s i m u l t a n e o u s l y
rotates a r o u n d the CR~ ~ (Fig 3). Alternately,
the t o o t h m o v e m e n t resulting f r o m these two
s i m u l t a n e o u s events is kinematically d e s c r i b e d
by an i n s t a n t a n e o u s c e n t e r o f r o t a t i o n which is
n e v e r at the CR~ S (Fig 4).
-fF
Figure 2. A single force applied at the bracket and
not at the center of resistance will cause rotation of
the tooth. Examples are shown of two possible force
directions,
Figure 3. Tooth rotation resulting from a force not
acting through the CRes viewed as the simultaneous
process of tooth translation that moves the Cl~es in
the direction of the force and, tooth rotation around
the CRew.
T h e rotational t e n d e n c y , o r m o m e n t , p r o -
d u c e d by a force n o t acting t h r o u g h t h e CRe s, is
e x p r e s s e d as the m o m e n t o f the force, M F (Fig
5). T h e m a g n i t u d e o f the M F is m e a s u r e d as
the m a g n i t u d e o f the f o r c e (F) m u l t i p l i e d by
the p e r p e n d i c u l a r distance (d) b e t w e e n the line
o f the force a n d the c e n t e r o f resistance (M F =
F • d). I n o r t h o d o n t i c applications, it is c o n v e n -
tional to e x p r e s s the units o f a M F in t e r m s o f
the force multiplied by a distance, eg, g • m m . 5
T h e use o f g . m m to e x p r e s s m o m e n t s is a n
o r t h o d o n t i c c o n v e n t i o n . G r a m s a r e units o f
mass a n d n o t p r o p e r l y used to e x p r e s s forces.
Forces are p r o p e r l y e x p r e s s e d as N e w t o n s .
T h e c o n v e r s i o n factors are: 1 g = .00981 N o r
1 N = 101.937 g.
A Couple
A n arch wire m a y also send a signal to the pe-
r i o d o n t i u m for t o o t h m o v e m e n t via a pair o f
Center of Rotation
Center of Resistance
Figure 4. Tooth rotation from a kinematic perspec-
tire describes rotation from time 1 to time 2 as
movement around a center of rotation. T h e actual
tooth movement clearly does not occur by move-
ment of points on the tooth along arcs of concentric
circles around a center of rotation.
 Ground Rules 5

<0T c
Figure 5. A tooth that receives a force not acting
through the CR~~ feels a m o m e n t or tendency to
rotate. T h e magnitude of this m o m e n t is measured
as the magnitude of lhe force times the perpendic-
ular distance from the line of the force to the CR,:~
and is expressed in f o r c e , distance units, M t, -
F . d . First, second, and t h i r d - o r d e r rotations are
<+TF
shown.
Figure 6. Moment of a couple resulting in first- and
equal and opposite noncollinear forces, second-order rotations. T h e two forces of the cou-
termed a couple. The force system of a couple ple on each bracket are located equidistant from the
is t h e s u m o f t h e f o r c e s y s t e m s o f t h e two e q u a l CR~~. T h e C~,~ and the center of rotation will be
coincident. M c F - d.
and opposite single tortes that comprise the
couple.
Alone, each force of a couple would move c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e r o t a t i o n , t h e r e m a i n d e r is a
t h e CRc ~ in t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e f o r c e as d e - m o m e n t in a c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n e x -
scribed tot the single-point iorce. Because the actly as if t h e c o u p l e w e r e p o s i t i o n e d with t h e
two f o r c e s a r e e q u a l a n d o p p o s i t e , e a c h f o r c e two f o r c e s e q u i d i s t a n t f r o m t h e CR~ ~ s i m i l a r to
t e n d s to m o v e t h e CR,, ~ in an e q u a l a n d o p p o - t h o s e s h o w n in F i g u r e 6. T h e r e t o r e , w h e n a
site d i r e c t i o n . ' l h e r e f b r e , n o m o v e m e n t o f t h e c o u p l e is a p p l i e d to a b r a c k e t , tile r e s u l t i n g
CR~ ~ c a n e v e r r e s u l t f r o m t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a t o o t h r o t a t i o n is u n a f f e c t e d by t h e l o c a t i o n o f
c o u p l e to a t o o t h , n o m a t t e r w h e r e t h e c o u p l e t h e b r a c k e t o n tile t o o t h o r w h a t t o r q u e is b u i l t
is a p p l i e d o n t h e t o o t h . into t h e b r a c k e t . T h e t o o t h c a n o n l y r e s p o n d to
A l o n e , e a c h t o r t e o f t h e c o u p l e also t e n d s to a c o u p l e w i t h r o t a t i o n a r o u n d its CR~ ~.
r o t a t e t h e t o o t h as d e s c r i b e d f o r t h e single- The rotational tendency produced by a cou-
p o i n t force. W h e n t h e lines o f f o r c e o f e a c h o f
t h e two f o r c e s o f t h e c o u p l e a r e l o c a t e d e q u i -
d i s t a n t f r o m t h e CR¢.~ b o t h f o r c e s o f tim c o u p l e
t e n d to r o t a t e t h e t o o t h in t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n
a r o u n d t h e CR~ , (Fig 6).
E v e n w h e n t h e lines o f f o r c e o f t h e two C
f o r c e s o f t h e c o u p l e a r e not l o c a t e d e q u i d i s t a n t
f r o m t h e CR~ ~, t h e y still p r o d u c e e x a c t l y t h e
same tendency for rotation of the tooth. In
F i g u r e 7, a t h i r d - o r d e r c o u p l e is l o c a t e d at a
b r a c k e t with t h e line o f f o r c e o f e a c h o f t h e

FIIF2
f o r c e s o f t h e c o u p l e a c t i n g at d i f f e r e n t dis-
t a n c e s f r o m t h e CR,+~. T h e f o r c e n e a r e s t t h e
CR~ , p r o d u c e s a s m a l l e r m o m e n t o r t e n d e n c y
f o r r o t a t i o n in a clockwise d i r e c t i o n b e c a u s e d
t h e f o r c e is m u l t i p l i e d by a s m a l l e r p e r p e n d i c -
u l a r d i s t a n c e to t h e CR~ s. T h e [ b r c e l o c a t e d Mc = F'd
f u r t h e r f r o m t h e CRy+ p r o d u c e s a l a r g e r m o -
m e n t o r t e n d e n c y f o r r o t a t i o n in a n opposite
c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n b e c a u s e t h e f o r c e is Figure 7. Moment of a couple resulting in a third-
o r d e r rotation where the two forces o f the couple
m u l t i p l i e d by a l a r g e r p e r p e n d i c u l a r d i s t a n c e
are not located equidistant from the CRe+. No matter
to t h e CR~ +. W h e n t h e m o m e n t f o r c l o c k w i s e where the couple is located on the tooth, the CRes is
r o t a t i o n is s u b t r a c t e d f r o m t h e m o m e n t f o r always coincident with the center of rotation.
6 Isaacson, Lindauer, and Davidovitch
pie is also r e f e r r e d to as a m o m e n t , the mo-
m e n t of the couple, M c. T h e m a g n i t u d e of the
M c is equal to the sum o f the m o m e n t s o f the
two equal and opposite single forces that com-
prise the couple. T h e r e f o r e , the m a g n i t u d e of
the M c equals the m a g n i t u d e o f one of the
forces o f the couple multiplied by the distance
between the two forces o f the couple (Figs 6
and 7).
T h e uniqueness o f the edgewise appliance
arises f r o m its ability to g e n e r a t e couples in
t h r e e planes. No m a t t e r w h e r e a bracket is
placed on a tooth, a couple applied at that
bracket can only cause the tooth to feeI a ten-
dency to rotate a r o u n d its center of resistance.
A couple alone c a n n o t cause the center of re-
sistance to m o v e in any direction a n d the cen-
ter o f rotation a n d the center o f resistance will
always be coincident.
Equilibrium
Newton's third law requires that for every ac-
tion t h e r e be an equal a n d opposite reaction.
This is easy to visualize for single-point forces
w h e n a given wire is pressed against an iden-
tical wire a n d b o t h wires d e f o r m equally in op-
posite directions. W h e n the wires are o f un-
equal resistance, the w e a k e r wire will d e f o r m
m o r e , but b o t h wires will still be p u s h i n g with
equal and opposite m a g n i t u d e s o f force. Equi-
librium requires that the sum o f the forces act-
ing in any plane equal zero.
Equilibrium also requires that the sum of
the m o m e n t s in any p l a n e equal zero. W h e n an
arch wire engages a bracket to create a couple
at that bracket, the tooth feels a tendency for
rotation a r o u n d its CRes. T h e couple at the
bracket is activated by b e n d i n g or twisting the
arch wire between the bracket and the next
a t t a c h m e n t o f the arch wire. This creates strain
in the wire to either m o v e the bracket or the
o t h e r e n d o f the wire until the wire is again
passive.6-9
Equilibrium consists o f a balance. A l t h o u g h
the couple created at the bracket results in a
m o m e n t in one direction, the forces at the ends
o f the activated arch wire r e p r e s e n t a n o t h e r
couple with a m o m e n t in an opposite direction.
T h e m a g n i t u d e o f the m o m e n t created by the
couple at the b r a c k e t m u s t be equal and o p p o -
site to the m o m e n t created by the associated
equilibrium forces at the attached e n d s o f the
arch wire. This is equilibrium. Because the to-
tal force system p r e s e n t d u r i n g equilibrium is
difficult to visualize and not intuitive, c o m p o -
nent parts can be o v e r l o o k e d a n d p r o d u c e un-
wanted clinical tooth m o v e m e n t s .
Equilibrium m u s t exist for all first, second,
and third o r d e r rotations derived f r o m a mo-
m e n t of a couple, M c. For e x a m p l e , a first-
o r d e r couple, created at a m o l a r bracket by
activating an arch wire as s h o w n in Figure 8,
tends to rotate the m o l a r in a clockwise direc-
tion. W h e n the arch wire is d e f o r m e d to create
this first-order couple at the bracket, the strain
created in the wire results in an equal a n d op-
posite tendency to rotate the attached ends o f
the w i r e in a c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n ,
F 2 • d 2. Equilibrium requires that the clockwise
m o m e n t of the couple at the bracket, (F 1 • dl),
be equal and opposite to the counterclockwise
m o m e n t at the ends of the wire, (F 2 • d2). Fig-
ure 9 shows an e x a m p l e o f a couple creating
s e c o n d - o r d e r rotations at a m o l a r b r a c k e t with
its associated equilibrium.
T h e equilibrium forces associated with a M c
also are single-point forces and, d e p e n d i n g on
where they are applied, can p r o d u c e a M F. Al-
t h o u g h the location o f the force at a bracket
cannot be varied greatly, in a o n e - c o u p l e sys-
tem, ie, w h e r e only one e n d o f the arch wire
engages a bracket to f o r m a couple, the attach-
m e n t of the o t h e r e n d of the wire is a point
~-~/~
F2 <
F1,
d FI-~ dl[
F2"d2 + Fcd~ = 0
F2 + =o
Figure 8. A V-bend creating a positive first-order
moment, F 1 • d 1, at the molar. Clockwise rotations
are positive by convention. Equilibrium requires
that a negative counterclockwise moment, F z - d 2,
be present and that the sum of F t . d 1 + F 2 . d 2
= 0.
 Ground Rules
Fl"dl + F2"d2= 0
+ =o
Figure 9. A V-bend creating a positive clockwise sec-
ond-order moment F t • d 1, at the molar. Equilib-
rium requires that a negative counterclockwise mo-
ment, F2 • d 2, be present and that the sum of F x • d~
+ F,) • d 2 = 0. The associated equilibrium forces act
at the bracket and not through the CRe~in all planes
resulting in a M F for third-order rotations for both
teeth.
a t t a c h m e n t that can be varied to act either
t h r o u g h the CR~S of a tooth or away f r o m the
CR~~ p r o d u c i n g a M v. Unlike the M c, the M v in
a one-couple system can be increased or de-
creased just by relocating the site o f force ap-
plication to change the distance between the
line o f the force and the CRew. T h e M v is not
intrinsic to the arch wire.
It is useful to r e m e m b e r that the equilib-
rium o f a M c is intrinsic to the wire as the wire
is d e f o r m e d to activate the c o u p l e at the
bracket. T h e strain created in the wire by this
b e n d i n g or twisting is the source o f the associ-
ated equilibrium felt at the attached ends o f
the wire.
Force Systems and Tooth Movements
Arch wire bends, no matter how complex, send
a message to the tooth consisting o f a single
force applied at some specific point a n d / o r a
couple with no specific point o f application.
T h e tooth can r e s p o n d only with translatory
and/or rotational movements.
T r a n s l a t i o n occurs only w h e n a force is
present. An isolated and single force, acting
t h r o u g h the CRes, can translate a tooth without
rotation, but only in the direction o f the line o f
the force (Fig 1).
7
Rotation occurs when a single force does not
act t h r o u g h the CRe s and the tooth feels a M F
(Fig 2). With a M E the CRes is displaced in the
same direction as the line o f force similar to
translation, and the tooth also feels a simulta-
neous t e n d e n c y for rotation a r o u n d the CRes
(Fig 3). Rotation also occurs when a couple is
applied to a bracket and the tooth feels a M c
(Figs 6 and 7). A M c is not capable o f m o v i n g
the CR~S.
A typical clinical example is a single, distally
directed force acting at the bracket o f a tooth
on a continuous arch wire as shown in Figure
10. This force results in a M E t e n d i n g to move
the CR~s in the direction o f the force a n d also
to rotate the tooth a r o u n d its CRe~. T o coun-
teract this t e n d e n c y o f the tooth to tip in a
clockwise direction, the edgewise bracket is de-
signed to e n g a g e a s e c o n d - o r d e r couple to ro-
tate the tooth in the opposite counterclockwise
direction. A perfect balance between the ten-
dency o f the M E t o rotate the tooth in a clock-
wise direction and the t e n d e n c y o f the M c to
rotate the tooth in a counterclockwise direction
would p r o d u c e tooth translation. I n applied
o r t h o d o n t i c terminology, this relationship is
expressed as a ratio o f the M c to the F that
p r o d u c e s the ME, or the m o m e n t to force ratio,
M/F. 5
For example, in F i g u r e 10, distal canine
translation is desired a n d a force o f 100 g is
applied 10 m m coronal to the center o f resis-
tance. This will tend to move the center o f re-
sistance distally in the direction o f the force
Mc =Fod
~=lOmm
100 g
~F = F'd = 100 g .10 mm = 1000 g.mm
Figure 10. Canine retraction with a 100 g force act-
ing 10 mm coronal to the CRes creates a positive M F
of 1,000 g • mm. The edgewise appliance engages a
second-order couple at the bracket that must create
a negative 1,000 g • mm Mc to avoid distal crown
tipping.
8 Isaacsorz, Lindauer, and Davidovitch
vector. Because the force is not acting t h r o u g h
the center o f resistance, a tendency for distal
crown tip or M F wiI1 also be present. T h e mo-
ment or tendency to rotate in this direction is
quantitated at 100 g • 10 m m = 1,000 g . ram.
W h e n the wire is seated in an edgewise
bracket, a tendency to rotate the tooth in the
opposite direction is provided by a M c created
by a s e c o n d - o r d e r couple at the bracket. If the
bracket is 4-ram long, an arch wire would have
to exert 250 g at each end o f the bracket to
create the necessary M c o f 1,000 g • m m in the
opposite direction. I f this could be achieved, all
tendencies for rotation would be eliminated
and the net tooth m o v e m e n t would be transla-
tion in the direction of the applied force.
Clinical Applications
In discussing the use o f these basic principIes
with o r t h o d o n t i c appliances and tooth move-
ments, it is i m p o r t a n t to r e m e m b e r that all ex-
amples are analyzed u n d e r static conditions.
T o attempt to u n d e r s t a n d appliances in terms
o f the changing conditions that are created as
tooth m o v e m e n t proceeds is the more complex
field o f dynamics.
One Bracket and One Couple
T h e simplest a r r a n g e m e n t of an orthodontic
force system involving a couple is an arch wire
developing a single couple at one bracket. Ex-
amples o f this type o f system discussed in this
issue are s e g m e n t e d springs, anterior intrusion
arches, and anterior extrusion arches.
In a single-bracket system, one end of the
arch wire is inserted into a bracket with an ac-
tivation b e n d usually located close to this
bracket. T h e o t h e r end o f the wire is displaced
and tied s o m e w h e r e as a single-point contact
(Figs 8 and 9). W h e n the activated wire is tied
at the point contact, the arch wire engages the
bracket and two equal and opposite forces
f o r m the couple at the bracket. This couple
p r o d u c e s a M c or tendency to rotate the tooth
a r o u n d its CRes.
W h e n a c o u p l e creates a M c at a single
bracket, it is i m p o r t a n t to know the direction o f
the m o m e n t at the bracket to know the direc-
tion o f the forces o f the associated equilibrium.
With a one bracket, one-couple system, a use-
ful clinical estimate of the direction o f the too-
ment created by the couple is possible by plac-
ing one end of an arch wire over, but not in,
the bracket slot where it is to be inserted. Place
the o t h e r end o f the wire at the location where
it wilI be tied as a single-point contact. W h e n
the wire crosses the bracket at an angle, the
bracket may be visualized as rotating to the
wire and this is the direction o f the m o m e n t
that will be created (Figs 8 and 9). Knowing the
direction of the m o m e n t at the bracket permits
identification o f the direction o f the forces in
the associated equilibrium.
T h e m a g n i t u d e o f the forces and m o m e n t s
in a one-couple system can be estimated clini-
cally by measuring the force r e q u i r e d to de-
form the wire for the tie at the point contact.
This force multiplied by the distance between
the bracket and the point a t t a c h m e n t o f the
arch wire equals a m o m e n t which is equal and
opposite in direction to the M c at the bracket.
T o estimate the m a g n i t u d e o f each o f the
forces o f the couple at the bracket, divide the
magnitude of this m o m e n t by the length o f the
bracket.
Two Brackets and Two Couples
W h e n the free end of the arch wire in a one-
bracket system is not used as a point contact,
and instead is inserted into a second bracket, a
two-couple system is usually created. For pur-
poses of establishing the direction o f the asso-
ciated equilibrium forces, the two-bracket sys-
tem can be considered as the sum o f two suc-
cessive one-bracket systems. In this issue, we
will discuss t o r q u i n g a r c h e s , u p s i d e - d o w n
t o r q u i n g arches, utility arches, u p s i d e - d o w n
utility arches, transverse activations, some seg-
m e n t e d springs, and transpalatal lingual arches
as examples of systems in which both ends o f
the wire are inserted into brackets.
A two-bracket system usually creates cou-
ples and tendencies for rotation at each o f the
two brackets. With a two-bracket system, when
the wire is placed over the slots o f the two
brackets where it will be inserted, the angle o f
entry of the wire vis-a-vis each bracket slot is
not necessarily an accurate estimate o f the di-
rection o f the M c at both brackets. This differ-
ence from a one bracket, one-couple system is
related to the properties o f the wire when cer-
tain specific relationships exist between the two
brackets. T h e s e specific relationships are dis-
 Ground Rules 9

cussed in detail in the introduction to the sec-

tion on three-dimensional (3-D) wires.
0
With a two-bracket system, when the wire is
placed over the slots of the two brackets where Mc
it will be inserted, the angle o f entry o f the wire
at each bracket slot does show which bracket
has the larger angle of entry and, therefore,
the larger m o m e n t . This is i m p o r t a n t because,
irrespective of the direction of the m o m e n t at
the second bracket, the larger m o m e n t will dic- d2 ~F2
tate the direction o f the associated net equilib- ~F2
rium forces acting at each bracket. T h e older At tooth A , ~ c = Fl"d I , A
c o m m o n l y practiced rule o f placing one end o f the associated equilibrium =rF~d 2
an arch wire in a bracket and using the position Fed1+ Fz'd2=0 ~'~+ ~=0
of the o t h e r end o f the wire as an indicator o f B
the direction of the resulting forces has m a n y
i m p o r t a n t exceptions (Fig 11).
In a two-bracket system the forces o f the
e q u i l i b r i u m associated with the m o m e n t at
each bracket always act at both brackets. Con-
sider a wire to be inserted into two successive
brackets on tooth A and B. T h e M c resulting
f r o m the insertion o f the wire into the bracket
at tooth A will have associated equilibrium
forces acting on tooth A as well as tooth B.
These are labelled F 2 in Figure 12A. T h e M c
'F, d4 ~F 4

At tooth B, tM~cc= F3"da ,_A

d3
. F3
the associated equilibrium =~F~d4
resulting f r o m the insertion of the wire into
F4"d4+Fa'd3=O ~+ ~=0
the bracket at tooth B will also have associated
equilibrium forces acting on both teeth A and ® A B
B. T h e s e are labelled F 4 in Figure 12B. T h e
combined actions o f the M c at tooth A and the
M c at tooth B are shown in Figure 12C. Be-
cause the V bend produces equal and opposite

I False I False
Figure 11. Errors that will be made if the direction
of the force systems in an two-couple system are
attempted to be read by placing one end of the wire
in one bracket and noting the position of the other
end of the wire.
F2~'F4 F2~F4
Total system for 2 couples with a V bend
Figure 12. Forces and moments present in a two-
bracket, two-couple system. (A) The Mo F l • d],
and its associated equilibrium, F2,' d2, resulting
from the engagement of the arch wire in tooth A.
(B) The equal and opposite M o F3"d3, and the
associated equilibrium, F4 • d4, resulting from the
engagement of the arch wire in tooth B. (C) Shows
the total system effect on the two teeth which is a
combination of the separate effects shown in A
and B.
10 I~aacsozz, Lindauer, and Davidovitch
couples at teeth A a n d B, the associated equi-
librium forces are equal a n d opposite and can-
cel each o t h e r out at both teeth.
Two BracketsmTwo Equal and
Oppositely Directed Couples
W h e n the M c at each o f two successive brack-
ets are equal a n d opposite, their associated
e q u i l i b r i u m forces at each b r a c k e t are also
equal a n d opposite a n d function to cancel each
o t h e r out (Fig 12). T h i s is sometimes r e f e r r e d
to as a symmetrical V - b e n d and it is a s s u m e d
that it is placed equidistant between two collin-
ear brackets. A symmetrical V is used when
equal and opposite m o m e n t s are desired at two
successive teeth a n d the forces o f the equilib-
r i u m associated with each m o m e n t are not
wanted.
For a symmetrical V - b e n d to develop equal
and opposite couples at two brackets, it is nec-
essary that the brackets are collinear with the
bracket slots in a l i g n m e n t with each other. Be-
cause malocclusions c o m m o n l y show a s y m m e t -
rically positioned or noncollinear brackets on
the teeth, equal and opposite m o m e n t s at two
successive brackets often will not result f r o m a
V-bend placed equidistant between two brack-
ets. T h e i m p o r t a n t point is not the location of
the V-bend. It is the creation o f equal and op-
posite m o m e n t s at the two successive brackets.
Equal and opposite m o m e n t s are accomplished
by adjusting the angle o f entry o f the arch wire
until it is equal a n d opposite w h e n the wire is
placed o v e r the two bracket slots b e f o r e inser-
tion.
Two Brackets--Two Unequal Oppositely
Directed Couples
For clinical p u r p o s e s , the effect of unequal and
oppositely directed couples at two successive
brackets m a y be t h o u g h t of as the algebraic
sum of the two single-bracket systems present.
T h e relative m a g n i t u d e o f the m o m e n t s at two
successive teeth is a p p r o x i m a t e d clinically by
e x a m i n i n g the wire passively placed o v e r the
two bracket slots. T h e bracket with the larger
angle o f entry and, t h e r e f o r e the larger M o
will have a g r e a t e r t e n d e n c y to rotate t h a n the
bracket with the smaller M c.
W h e n the directions of the M c at two suc-
cessive brackets are u n e q u a l and in opposite
directions, the larger o f the two m o m e n t s will
d e t e r m i n e the direction o f the associated equi-
librium forces. At each tooth, the m a g n i t u d e o f
the equilibrium force associated with the larger
M c at each tooth will be m o d i f i e d by the equi-
librium forces associated with the smaller M c.
Each bracket will feel the net d i f f e r e n c e (Fig
13). T h e m a g n i t u d e and direction o f the equi-
librium forces associated with the smaller M c
are p r o p o r t i o n a l to the m a g n i t u d e a n d direc-
tion o f the smaller M c. This m o m e n t will vary
d e p e n d i n g o n w h e t h e r t h e w i r e is t w o -
d i m e n s i o n a l (2-D) o r 3-D a n d w h e r e t h e
V-bend is located along the wire. T h e details o f
this question are discussed in the section on
3-D.
This wire configuration is r e f e r r e d to as an
asymmetrical V or off-center b e n d , but it is not
a question of w h e r e the V is located. T h e crit-
ical factor is the resulting o r i e n t a t i o n o f the
wire to each bracket slot. T h i s angle o f e n t r y
d e t e r m i n e s the larger m o m e n t c r e a t e d and,
Figure 13. Two-bracket, two-couple system with an
asymmetrical V-bend in the arch wire. This shows
which moment is larger and the direction of its as-
sociated equilibrium forces, information that can be
determined clinically. The larger moment at tooth
A determines the direction of the associated equi-
librium forces. The smaller oppositely directed mo-
ment at tooth B has smaller associated equilibrium
forces that function to modify the larger equilib-
rium forces associated with tooth A. The direction
of the smaller moment at tooth B and its associated
equilibrium forces are not discernable clinically and
are not shown.
 Ground Rules 11

r i u m f o r c e s at b o t h b r a c k e t s a r e also in t h e
s a m e d i r e c t i o n . E a c h t o o t h will feel t h e n e t re-
sult o r t h e s u m o f t h e f o r c e s p r e s e n t ( F i g 14).
T h i s c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f a w i r e is s o m e t i m e s
r e f e r r e d to as a s t e p b e n d . A s t e p b e n d is b a -
sically two V - b e n d s c r e a t i n g m o m e n t s in t h e
s a m e d i r e c t i o n . W h e n t h e w i r e is p a s s i v e l y
placed over two adjacent brackets, the effects
of a step bend are created when the angle of
e n t r y o f t h e w i r e i n t o t h e b r a c k e t is in t h e s a m e
d i r e c t i o n at b o t h t e e t h ( F i g 14). I n c o n t r a s t to
V-bends, step bends have no important
c h a n g e s in t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e m o m e n t o r
the associated equilibrium forces created when
t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e s t e p is m o v e d m e s i o d i s t a l l y
b e t w e e n two brackets.X°

References
Figure 14. Two-bracket, two-couple system with a
step bend in the wire. Because both moments are in
the same direction, the associated equilibrium forces
are also in the same direction and, therefore, in-
creased at each tooth.
therefore, the direction of the equilibrium
forces present.
Two BracketsmTwo Same
Direction Couples
T h e r e m a i n i n g p o s s i b i l i t y f o r a t w o - c o u p l e sys-
t e m is two c o u p l e s with t h e m o m e n t s o f b o t h
c o u p l e s a c t i n g in t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n . T h e di-
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