FORCE DELIVERY PROPERTIES OF COLORED ELASTOMERIC MODULES

Elastomeric chains have been used by clinicians for some time to accom plish various treatment objectives. Recently, a number of manufacturer s have added colored elastomeric chains to their inventories. The pres ent study was designed to investigate the force delivery capabilities and dimensional stability of these new colored chains. Four different colors of short filament configuration produced by three manufacturers were examined. The force delivery capabilities of each chain were tes ted at 0 hours and, after storage at 37-degrees-C in air, distilled wa ter, and artificial saliva, at 1 hour, 4 hours, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 we eks, and 3 weeks. A universal testing machine was used to determine th e amount of distraction necessary to generate 150 and 300 gf. Dimensio nal measurements were assessed initially and. after exposure to a simu lated oral environment, at 1, 2, and 3 weeks. The data from the force delivery portion of the study were analyzed with a 4-factor factorial analysis of variance. The data compiled from the dimensional stability portion were subjected to a 3-factor factorial analysis of variance. Follow-up Bonferroni simultaneous t tests (family-wise a priori alpha p < 0.05) was used to determine statistical significance of the differ ences among sets of means. All colored elastomeric chains in the study appeared capable of initially generating force levels compatible with tooth movement. After 24 hours of storage in liquid, the amount of di straction needed to produce 150 and 300 gf substantially increased. Th e amount of increased need varied among manufacturers. All chains show ed an increase in dimensional measurements after 1 week, with little c hange thereafter.