The aim of the present study was to utilize a strain gauge, which enabled t
he force applied to produce firmly attached crimpable hooks to rectangular
stainless steel archwires, to be measured. In vitro testing of two hooks, A
merican Orthodontic (AO) and TP Orthodontic (TP), and two dimensions of sta
inless steel archwire, 0.019 x 0.025 and 0.018 x 0.025-inch, was carried ou
t using an Instron Universal Testing machine.
The results demonstrate that there was a significant difference in the beha
viour of the two types of crimpable hooks, with almost twice the force need
ed to dislodge the TP hooks compared with the AO hooks (11.7 and 6.22 N, re
spectively). When using TP hooks attached to either 0.019 x 0.025 or 0.018
x 0.025-inch stainless steel wires, the archwire size makes little differen
ce to the force required to produce movement. The clinical significance of
these findings is discussed.