JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.

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

Common Sense Mechanics

2
THOMAS F. MULLIGAN , DDS
Forces and Moments

We all know what a force is, but sometimes we tend to confuse the relationship between force
and moment. Both are extremely important to us as they produce the movements we seek, as well as
those we consider undesirable. Simply stated, a force is nothing more than a "push" or "pull," and
acts in a straight line (Fig. 15). Whenever this line of force passes through the center of a body— in
orthodontics we refer to the Center of Resistance— there is no moment produced and therefore no
rotational tendency (Fig. 16A). When a force acts away from the center, a moment is produced and
a rotational tendency occurs (Fig. 16B).

A moment is the product of force times distance. If the line of force does not pass through the
center of resistance of the tooth, then there is a distance between this line of force and the center. It
is the perpendicular distance from this line of force to the center that causes the moment on the
tooth, resulting in rotational tendencies (Fig. 17). Although I don't care to use numbers or specific
magnitudes in tooth movement, the magnitude of the moment is determined by this force times the
perpendicular distance to the center. We could double the force and cut the distance in half, or
double the distance and cut the force in half, and in both cases we would produce the same moment
or rotational tendency (Fig. 18).

What does all of this mean? First of all, the orthodontist cannot think of forces and torques
(moments) as being the same. You can "sense" a force when you bend a wire, but you cannot
"sense" torque. Because the latter is simply a product of force times distance, as previously
discussed, the distance (length) is just as effective as the force. If the force passes through the center
of resistance, no perpendicular distance is involved. Therefore, regardless of the magnitude of the
force, there is no moment (Fig. 19). Force times zero distance always equals zero. We might use a
lot of force and produce no moment or a small moment, while a small force might produce a large
moment due to the distance involved (Fig. 20). So, beginning right now, it is important to get used
to treating the two as separate entities. One is a product of the other. Because all of this is going to
become essential, later, when we discuss differential torque for anchorage and non-anchorage
problems, and because ultimately you will see that the clinical application is simple, fast, and easy
to understand, it is critical that the groundwork be laid beforehand.

I am going to go through a step-by-step discussion of what I have, over the years, referred to as
the "Cue Ball Concept." If we can think of things in a way that relates to some of our personal
experiences in life, I think you will find it much easier to understand and ultimately apply. After all,
if it cannot be applied, then this is strictly academic and a waste of your valuable time.

Cue Ball Concept

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Anyone who has had the experience of playing pool has held a cue stick and applied a force on
the cue ball. Experience taught the individual where to strike the cue ball in order to produce a
given response. If we desired English, we applied a force off center (Fig. 21). We produced left or
right English at will, simply by deciding to apply the force to either the left or right side of center on
the cue ball.

If we only wished to "translate" the cue ball— move it in a straight line with no left or right
English— we applied the force right through the middle of the cue ball (Fig. 22). By the way, with
a tooth we use the term Center of Resistance, whereas, in a free body we use the term Center of
Mass. Obviously the ball rotated or rolled forward due to the friction of the table, but the response
was predictable. A force applied through the center resulted in straight line movement with no left
or right English (moment). Since we know from experience, therefore, how to predict a response
based on the point of force application, let us take a step-by-step look at the reasons behind this
predictability.

Translation

Again, if we apply a force through the center of the cue ball, it will move forward in a straight
line (Fig. 23). Unlike the tooth, this is a free body with a set of rules we will discuss. Whenever a
force passes through the center of such a body, the body will translate. There will be no rotation—
other than the forward roll due to the friction of the table itself. The reason there is no rotation
(moment) is that the line of force has no perpendicular distance to the center; the force is passing
through the center. So, we can make the statement that a force acting through-the center of such a
body produces translation without rotation. This is a predictable response based on a known point
of force application.

Rotation and Translation

If we take exactly the same force and apply it on the same body, but instead of applying it
through the center, apply it off center, then we create a situation where the line of force has a
perpendicular distance from the "Center of Mass" (a free body expression). This means that we now
produce not only translation, but also rotation, as a result of the moment produced (Fig. 21). As we
know from experience, this is exactly what happens when we decide to strike a cue ball to the left or
right of center. A force applied on a body, but not through the center of that body, results in
translation and rotation.

Pure Rotation (Couple)

Although when we play pool, we do not apply two forces on a cue ball at the same time, we
could do it to prove a point. If we were to apply two forces on the cue ball, equal and opposite, in
the same plane of space, the ball would not translate in any direction. Instead, it would simply
maintain its position and "spin" (rotate) (Fig. 24). The reason for this is that the two forces cancel
each other out, but leave a net moment (rotation) due to the fact that each of these "Lines of Force"
acts at a perpendicular distance from the center of the ball. Now that we have "played" the game of

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pool together, I hope we can see the reasoning behind our experiences and from this learn that it is
possible to predict a response based on a known point of force application.

Forces and Moments Acting on Teeth

With some of these basics behind us, let us take a look at tooth movement when we attempt to
accomplish more than one type of tooth movement at a time. In the previous material, it was shown
how the force and direction can be determined by whether the bend is in the center or off center.
Therefore, if we use a tipback bend for overbite correction, as is done in a number of techniques
today, we can certainly recognize that when the short segments are placed into the molar tubes, the
long segments, prior to bracket engagement, lie in the muco-labial fold (Fig. 25A). From this we
can see that the long segment points apically in the incisor area and therefore indicates an incisor
intrusive force while the molars have an extrusive force present.

But, there is more to it than just these forces. What about the moments? When the wire is brought
down from the mucolabial fold for insertion into the incisor brackets (Fig. 25B), the force required
acts at a perpendicular distance from the center of resistance in the molar (Fig. 25C), thus producing
mesial root torque or distal crown thrust on each of the molars involved. When the wire is engaged
into the incisor brackets, the intrusive force acts in a straight line and usually passes labial to the
center of resistance in the incisors (Fig. 26). This produces a smaller moment that on the molar,
because in spite of the fact the forces are equal, the distances involved are radically different.

So, when the archwire is tied into place and tied back at the molar tubes, we have significantly
different (relatively) magnitudes of torque (Fig. 27) which we can refer to as "differential torque". If
we do not tie the archwire to the molar tubes, and if friction does not accomplish the same by
causing binding at the tubes, the anterior and posterior moments may be permitted to respond
independently of each other. If tied back, the system behaves as a whole, and the "tug of war" is
apparent with the molar having the obvious mechanical advantage with the larger moment. The
clinical applications of differential torque will be discussed later .

Thus far, we see a force system as illustrated in Figure 28. But, again, that is not all that is taking
place. Let us take a look at a distal view of the molar teeth and keep the cue ball concept in mind
(Fig. 29). If the wire is round, instead of rectangular, and permitted to "roll" inside the tubes, the
extrusive force present on the molar teeth then acts at the molar tubes which lie, usually, buccally to
the center of resistance in these teeth. This force times distance results in molar lingual crown
torque. So we can begin to see that such torque is not necessarily dependent on the use of
rectangular wire. Torque is simply a product of force times distance and does not recognize the type
of wire involved. Incidentally, if a wire were very rigidly attached to the tubes, the applied force
would pass lingual to the center of resistance, thereby inducing buccal crown torque instead .

When one observes an effect, he should be able to interpret the cause and vice versa. We should
also begin to recognize that such force systems should not be routinely considered as undesirable
side effects except for the orthodontist who is unaware of their presence and therefore is not

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

prepared to prevent undesirable effects as well as to utilize the systems effectively when indicated.
If lingual crown torque is desired, it should be permitted to act. If undesirable, it can be prevented
with a lingual arch, a rectangular wire, or whatever means the operator chooses.

So, looking at the force system, thus far, we recognize molar extrusive forces, incisor intrusive
forces, molar mesial root torque significantly (relatively) larger than the incisor lingual root torque,
and molar lingual crown torque. Does this seem complicated? It might for anyone used to
concentrating only on the single force or moment desired, but the entire system exists, whether we
like it or not— not just the portion with which we are concerned. In any case, awareness of the
entire system will afford us many exciting opportunities as we will see later. We will discover that
there are means available for utilizing parts of the system while overcoming other parts, because we
will be dealing with such matters as forces of occlusion, cusp heights, wire size and lengths, etc.,
whereby we can learn to control force magnitudes so that although an extrusive component of force
might be present on a molar and considered to be undesirable, it can be prevented from acting and
therefore not become a threat. Force systems will always be present, but not all phases will be
permitted to respond.

Lingual Root Torque

Now, after all of the previous discussion which involved a tipback bend, we are able to become
reasonably familiar with the force system involved. Let us take a look at other bends in the same
archwire that begin to affect the force system. If we place lingual root torque into the incisor
section, we produce a long segment and a short segment (Fig. 30), just as was the case with the
tipback bend. The long segment indicates a molar intrusive force and therefore an extrusive force
on the incisors. We can also see that the torque produced on the incisors is a result of force times
distance, since the long segment has to be brought down to the molar tube, and the force required to
bring it down acts at a perpendicular distance to the incisors (Fig. 31). If the long segments from the
tipback bends maintain the same angular relationship as the long segments from the incisor torque
bend, the vertical forces cancel each other and only moments remain. Therefore, no overbite
correction may occur even though we might expect it. The anterior lingual root torque introduces a
vertical component of force that must be considered .

If the long segments just discussed are unequal in angular relationship, then the one producing
the greater angle relative to t he level of the archwire will determine the net force present. For
example, if lingual root torque produces the greater angle as shown in Figure 32, the net forces will
be intrusive on the molar and extrusive on the incisor. Therefore, if we are hoping for overbite
correction, but increased our lingual root torque to this point, we can expect our overbite to increase
instead of decreasing. So, we might decide, if we know this beforehand, to either increase the molar
tipback bend, decrease the amount of lingual root torque on the incisor segment, or a combination
of each, in order to assure ourselves of a net intrusive force on the incisor segment for overbite
correction.

Recognition of the problems and intelligent decision making will only follow a thorough

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

understanding of the underlying principles.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

FIGURES

Fig. 15

Fig. 15 Forces act in a straight line, producing a line of force.

Fig. 16

Fig. 16 A. When the line of force passes through the center of resistance no moment is produced and, therefore, no
rotational tendency. B. When the line of force does not pass through the center of resistance, a moment is produced
and rotation occurs.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 17

Fig. 17 The perpendicular distance between the line of force and the center of resistance produces a moment.

Fig. 18

Fig. 18 A moment is the product of force times distance. Doubling the force and halving the distance maintains the
same moment, and vice versa.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 19

Fig. 19 When the force passes through the center of resistance, no moment is produced. When the force does not
pass through the center of resistance, a moment is produced.

Fig. 20

Fig. 20 A large force (indicated by the longer horizontal line) might produce no moment, while a smaller force might
produce a large moment because of the distance from the center of resistance.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 21

Fig. 21 A force off center causes the cue ball to rotate as well as move forward in a straight line.

Fig. 22

Fig. 22 No left or right rotation is produced when the force is applied through the center of the cue ball.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 23

Fig. 23 When the line of force acts through the center of resistance, only translation results.

Fig. 24

Fig. 24 Equal and opposite forces (couple) produce pure rotation.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 25

Fig. 25 A. Archwire with tipback bend Inserted in molar tube. B. A force is required to bring the archwire from the
mucolabial fold to the incisor bracket. C. A moment is produced on the molar as a product of force times distance.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 26

Fig. 26 The intrusive force acting through the incisor bracket usually lies labial to the center of resistance, thus
producing a moment, but smaller than the one on the molar.

Fig. 27

Fig. 27 Differential torque.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 28

Fig. 28 Forces and differential torque on molar and incisor produced by tying in archwire with molar tipback and incisor
lingual crown torque.

Fig. 29

Fig. 29 An eruptive force at the molar tubes passing buccally to the center of resistance produces lingual crown torque
on molars.

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JCO on CD-ROM (Copyright © 1998 JCO, Inc.), Volume 1979 Oct(676 - 683): Common Sense Mechanics: Part 2

Fig. 30

Fig. 30 Lingual root torque. A long segment and a short segment are produced by torque bend.

Fig. 31

Fig. 31 Lingual root torque is produced as a result of the force necessary for molar tube engagement times the
perpendicular distance to the center of resistance in the incisor.

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Fig. 32

Fig. 32 If the tipback and torque bends produce equal angular relationships (A), the net forces are zero. If unequal (B),
net forces occur.

Figures 14