Frictional resistance in orthodontic archwires: A comprehensive review

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Frictional resistance at the bracket-archwire interface affects the efficiency of orthodontic treatment. Factors such as surface roughness, material composition, and the oral environment significantly influence the friction and mechanical properties of the archwire, thereby impacting treatment outcome. This review explores the effect of these variables on frictional resistance during orthodontic treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A literature review was conducted using PubMed from 1990 to 2024, the keywords used to perform the search were “orthodontic archwires” “surface roughness,” and “friction.” A total of 118 articles were found that included archwire materials, surface roughness, and frictional forces during orthodontic treatment.

RESULTS:

Stainless steel archwires exhibited low friction due to their smooth surfaces, while nickel-titanium wires, although very flexible and superelastic, these wires show higher friction due to surface roughness. Coated archwires, initially show reduced friction but wear out with time, leading to increased resistance. Environmental factors, such as saliva, pH variations, and fluoride exposure, can degrade archwire surfaces; thus, further influence treatment efficiency. Nonmetallic archwires offer some aesthetic advantages but are limited in mechanical properties and durability.

CONCLUSION:

The performance of orthodontic archwires is strongly influenced by material properties, surface modifications, and environmental factors. Proper selection of materials and surface treatment can reduce frictional resistance, improve treatment efficiency, and enhance patient comfort. Further research is needed to focus on improving material durability and developing advanced coatings to address issues of wear and corrosion.

Introduction

Orthodontic treatment relies on the controlled movement of teeth, which is achieved through the application of orthodontic appliances, primarily consisting of brackets and archwires. The efficiency of orthodontic treatment is significantly influenced by frictional resistance at the bracket-archwire interface. High frictional forces have been associated with delays in tooth movement and increased patient discomfort.[1,2,3] It has been established that the materials used for archwires, such as stainless steel (SS), nickel-titanium (NiTi), beta-titanium (TMA), and copper-nickel-titanium (Cu-NiTi) alloys, along with various coated alloys, impact the frictional forces encountered during treatment.[4,5,6] These materials affect friction through their surface characteristics, elasticity, and rigidity. The mechanical properties and surface morphology of archwires are largely determined by the manufacturing processes, which involve alloy composition and surface treatment applications.[7]

The surface topography of different archwire materials plays a crucial role in generating frictional forces during orthodontic tooth movement.[1,8] Friction in orthodontics can be categorized into static and kinetic components, both of which have substantial effects on treatment outcomes.[5,9] Increased frictional forces may result from factors such as the material and surface roughness of the archwire, potentially leading to prolonged treatment duration or even loss of anchorage.[1,2] Thus, a thorough understanding of archwire properties is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and clinical outcomes, aiming to achieve efficient tooth movement with minimal patient discomfort.[4,5,10,11,12]

Surface roughness is a key determinant of frictional forces in orthodontic archwires. Generally, increased surface roughness correlates with higher friction, which in turn demands greater force for effective tooth movement, potentially compromising both the efficiency of the treatment and patient comfort.[1,13] Therefore, controlling surface roughness is a critical consideration in orthodontic materials science, as it ensures optimal sliding mechanics within the bracket-archwire system.[8] Surface roughness, however, is influenced not only by the primary manufacturing process but also by post-manufacturing treatments, such as polishing and the application of coatings.[8,10,14]

This review aims to explore the existing literature on orthodontic archwires, with particular emphasis on how surface roughness influences frictional resistance and, consequently, clinical treatment outcomes.

Materials and Methods

A literature search for clinical and laboratory studies published between 1990 and 2024 was performed using the search engine PubMed. The following keywords were used: orthodontic archwires, surface roughness, and friction [Table 1]. The inclusion criteria considered were studies discussing and focusing on archwires, surface roughness of the archwires, and friction with sliding mechanics. Exclusion criteria included studies relating to the mechanical properties of archwires and discussion of other components of the fixed appliance alone such as brackets. A total number of 118 articles were identified and included in this review. Each study was analyzed and classified with reference to scientific evidence. Figure 1 illustrates the exclusion process,[15] and Figure 2 illustrates the types of articles included in the review.

Table 1.

Keywords used for literature search

Keywords		Number of articles
(Archwire) AND (surface roughness)		98
(Archwire) AND (friction)		146
(Archwire) AND (surface roughness) AND (friction)		59
Total included		118

Figure 1.

PRISMA-flow diagram illustrating the article exclusion process

Figure 2.

Flow chart illustrating types of articles included

Archwire materials and their frictional properties

Stainless steel archwires

Stainless steel (SS) archwires have long been recognized as the material of choice in orthodontic treatment due to their superior mechanical properties, including high tensile strength, robustness, and excellent corrosion resistance. These attributes, coupled with a smooth surface finish, render SS archwires the gold standard in orthodontic practice.[1,4,5] The process of manufacturing SS archwires typically involves cold drawing of stainless-steel rods through dies to achieve the desired dimensions and shape. This cold-forming process, which may include precision drawing and polishing steps, results in a relatively smooth surface. Subsequent polishing further enhances the surface finish, reducing imperfections and producing archwires with some of the smoothest surfaces available in orthodontic materials.[11]

The smooth surface of SS archwires plays a significant role in reducing frictional forces during orthodontic tooth movement. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the lower surface roughness of SS archwires contributes to a decrease in frictional resistance, thereby improving sliding mechanics and enhancing overall treatment efficiency.[1,5,11,16] Prashant et al.,[2] observed that the frictional resistance of SS archwires is consistently lower compared to other materials, such as NiTi, which is beneficial for efficient sliding mechanics during orthodontic treatment.

However, it is important to note that despite the generally smooth surface finish, SS archwires are susceptible to surface defects, such as microcracks, which may lead to stress concentrations and potentially increase the risk of fracture.[7,17] Thus, maintaining the integrity of the archwire surface throughout treatment is critical to ensuring the mechanical reliability and longevity of SS archwires. Overall, the minimal friction and high surface finish of SS archwires make them particularly advantageous in treatment phases that demand precise control over tooth movement and efficient sliding mechanics.[1,16]

Nickel-titanium archwires

Since their introduction in orthodontics in the early 1970s, Ni-Ti archwires became widely used in orthodontics due to their unique properties.[18,19,20] Their flexibility, shape memory, and superplastic characteristics allow them to deliver continuous light forces over an extended period.[21,22,23] The manufacturing process of Ni-Ti archwires involves alloying nickel with titanium at high temperatures, followed by specific heating and cooling treatments that impart the unique properties of shape memory and superelasticity. These thermomechanical properties are critical for orthodontic applications where gradual, consistent force application is necessary, particularly during the initial stages of treatment.[21,23] However, the alloying and cooling processes often result in the formation of surface oxides and non-uniformities, which contribute to a relatively rough surface texture compared to other archwire materials.[23] This surface roughness is further exacerbated by the presence of voids and porosity within the Ni-Ti alloy.[7,24] These surface imperfections lead to increased friction, which can hinder the smooth movement of teeth, particularly when Ni-Ti archwires are used in conjunction with ceramic brackets.[7,24,25]

Despite the elevated friction, Ni-Ti archwires are particularly advantageous during the early stages of orthodontic treatment, where their ability to apply gentle, continuous forces is essential for effective alignment. The tradeoff of increased friction is often manageable during this phase of treatment.[1,7] To mitigate the frictional drawbacks, surface treatments, such as coatings, are frequently applied to Ni-Ti archwires. These coatings can help smooth the surface and reduce friction; however, they tend to degrade over time with prolonged use, leading to an eventual increase in friction.[12]

Beta-titanium archwires

Beta-titanium archwires were introduced into orthodontics in the early 1990s.[26] They are commonly referred to as Titanium-Molybdenum Alloy (TMA). An alloy of titanium and molybdenum that combines a unique balance of flexibility and strength, making it versatile for a wide range of orthodontic applications.[1,7,27,28,29] These archwires are more flexible than SS but stiffer than Ni–Ti, which allows them to be used effectively at various stages of orthodontic treatment, from initial alignment to more complex phases.[24]

The manufacturing of TMA archwires involves the alloying of titanium with molybdenum, followed by a heat treatment process that imparts the desired mechanical properties of both flexibility and rigidity.[1,24] These properties make TMA archwires particularly useful in clinical situations requiring a controlled balance between force application and material performance.

In terms of surface characteristics, TMA archwires generally exhibit rougher surfaces than SS archwires but are smoother than Ni-Ti archwires. This intermediate surface roughness results in a moderate level of friction compared to other materials.[27] Despite this, TMA archwires tend to generate less friction than Ni-Ti archwires, a phenomenon attributed to the alloy’s unique metallurgical properties.[24] These properties contribute to an intermediate level of friction and flexibility, making TMA archwires particularly suitable for critical stages of orthodontic treatment, such as space closure and root positioning, where low, controlled forces are required for effective tooth movement.[29]

Copper-nickel-titanium archwires

Copper-nickel-titanium (Cu–NiTi) archwires are an advancement of traditional Ni–Ti archwires, achieved by alloying copper with nickel and titanium.[30,31,32] The thermal responsiveness of Cu–NiTi archwires is one of their key advantages, as it allows the archwires to adapt their flexibility and force levels according to intraoral temperature fluctuations. This feature significantly improves patient comfort by providing gentle, continuous forces during treatment.[33]

The production of Cu-NiTi archwires involves alloying nickel, titanium, and copper under controlled conditions, resulting in the formation of distinct temperature transformation phases. These phases enable the archwires to exhibit superelasticity and shape memory, similar to conventional Ni-Ti archwires.[7,23,33,34] However, the introduction of copper into the alloy also results in higher surface roughness compared to standard Ni-Ti archwires. This increased roughness is primarily due to copper oxidation and the challenge of maintaining surface uniformity during the cooling process.[10]

As a result of their higher surface roughness, Cu–NiTi archwires are associated with moderate friction at the bracket-archwire interface.[27] Despite this, the clinical advantages of Cu–NiTi archwires are notable. Their temperature-sensitive properties allow for enhanced flexibility at lower temperatures, making them easier to place initially. At body temperature, Cu–NiTi archwires exert light, continuous forces that are ideal for gradual tooth alignment and leveling.[16,33,34,35,36] This controlled response not only increases patient comfort but also facilitates effective tooth movement, particularly in the early stages of treatment where low, steady forces are essential for optimal results.

Esthetic archwires

Coated archwires, which typically consist of base materials such as SS or NiTi, have been developed to address both aesthetic and functional needs in orthodontic therapy.[4,12,37,38,39] These coatings, which are often made of Teflon, epoxy, or fiber-resin, provide a smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface while also improving the corrosion resistance of the archwires and reducing hypersensitivity.[5,28,40,41,42,43] Various coating techniques, including dipping, electrochemical deposition, and more recent methods incorporating nanoparticles (e.g., titanium dioxide and silica dioxide), are employed to enhance the surface smoothness and resistance to plaque accumulation.[4]

The primary clinical advantage of coated archwires is their initial low friction due to the smooth surface provided by the coatings.[44] This feature is especially beneficial in the early stages of orthodontic treatment, where minimizing friction is crucial for efficient tooth alignment and leveling.[7,36,37,38,39,40,41] However, in the oral environment, these coatings are prone to wear and degradation over time, leading to the exposure of the underlying base material. Once this occurs, the friction increases, potentially diminishing the clinical benefits.[4,12,37,38,39]

As a result of the wear associated with coated archwires, there has been significant research into more durable coating materials.[12,37,38,39,43] Ceramic and metallic oxide coatings, which are more wear-resistant, have emerged as potential solutions to extend the service life of coated archwires.[38] Despite these advancements, the frequent need to replace worn-coated archwires remains a limitation, contributing to the overall cost of orthodontic treatment.[10,37,38,39,45] To address these challenges, ongoing research is focused on improving the durability and performance of coatings through advanced materials, including nanoparticle-enhanced coatings.[42,46,47] Nanoparticles, such as those of titanium dioxide and silica dioxide, offer promising potential to increase the wear resistance and longevity of coated archwires, potentially reducing the frequency of replacements and enhancing the overall cost-effectiveness of orthodontic treatment.[43]

Nonmetallic esthetic archwires

Nonmetallic esthetic archwires, including Optiflex, clear polymer archwires, and composite archwires, offer enhanced aesthetic properties by eliminating metal components.[5,40,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54] Optiflex archwires are composed of clear optical fibers, providing superior esthetic results by becoming nearly invisible upon insertion.[1,40,55] However, their relatively low rigidity limits their application to light-force orthodontic procedures and initial alignment phases, as they exhibit reduced load-bearing capacity and increased susceptibility to fracture under excessive stress.[51,56,57] Clear polymer archwires, fabricated from various transparent thermoplastic materials, also deliver minimal visual intrusion.[40,48,52,53] Despite their esthetic advantages, these materials are prone to deformation and discoloration in the oral environment, which compromises their suitability for more complex orthodontic treatments. In contrast, composite archwires, which incorporate glass or fiber-reinforced polymers, combine improved mechanical properties with esthetic benefits. These archwires exhibit greater stiffness and higher load-bearing capacity compared to clear polymer variants.[12,38,52,53] However, despite these advancements, composite archwires may still experience time-dependent deformation due to fluctuations in temperature and pH within the oral cavity. Consequently, they are primarily suitable for light-force applications and require careful monitoring and regular replacement to maintain optimal performance.[40,53]

Influence of surface treatment and polishing

The surface roughness and frictional properties of archwires can be greatly modified using post-production treatments such as polishing, heat treatment, and chemical baths.[8,14,34,58] These techniques are generally conducted to reduce surface roughness by removing surface imperfections and smoothing the surface of the archwire.[8,14,34,59,60,61,62] For example, it has been reported that the friction is lower for the polished SS and TMA archwires compared to their unpolished state.[8,14] The flexibility and surface properties of heat-treated materials, specifically Ni-Ti and TMA archwires are modified by their crystalline structure.[7,34,35] The controlled heat treatment procedures relieve internal stresses, which refines the surface and makes the archwire resilient thus giving better sliding characteristics.[34]

Table 2 compares friction across different archwire type. Figure 3 illustrates clinical implications and archwire clinical recommendations.

Table 2.

Summary comparing friction across different archwire types

Archwire type		Friction level		Key characteristics
Stainless Steel (SS)		Low		Smooth surface, Provides consistent low friction throughout treatment, ideal for efficient tooth movement. Widely used for space closure and precise tooth movement.
Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti)		High		Exhibits higher friction compared to SS, but provides flexibility and continuous light forces, but more friction.
Beta-Titanium (TMA)		Moderate		Balance between flexibility and strength. Intermediate surface roughness, generates less friction than Ni-Ti.
Copper-Nickel-Titanium (Cu-NiTi)		High		Enhanced flexibility and superelasticity with temperature-dependent behavior. Higher surface roughness than Ni-Ti.
Coated Archwires (e.g., Teflon, Epoxy)		Initially low		Smooth coating provides initial low friction but gradually increases over time due to coating wear and surface roughness buildup.
Nonmetallic Esthetic Archwires (e.g., Optiflex, Polymer, Composite)		High		High friction due to lower rigidity and potential for increased wear, making them less suitable for long-term treatments.

Figure 3.

Clinical implications and recommendations

The oral environment and oral hygiene: Effects on orthodontic archwires

The oral environment represents a dynamic set of conditions which may have significant influence on the mechanical and physical properties of orthodontic archwires. It has been reported that the performance of an archwire alters during orthodontic treatment, owing to various environmental factors such as mechanical stress, friction, temperature fluctuations, pH changes, and different oral hygiene habits.[16,63,64] All these environmental factors including biological interaction with saliva, pellicle formation, and plaque accumulation have critical influence on surface characteristics, corrosion, and frictional resistance of the archwires. All these environmental factors have their impact on surface roughness, corrosion, and frictional forces, thereby affecting the performance of orthodontic appliances.[16,63,65,66,67] Such interactions must be well understood to realize an optimal treatment outcome and longevity of the archwires. Further, the patient-related factors like oral hygiene habits and usage of specific dental products must be closely controlled in order to minimize adverse effects on the performance of the archwire.[5,38,59,61,68] These factors should be further researched in the long term to devise better ways of improving efficiency and longevity in orthodontic materials.

Frictional forces and surface roughness

Two factors that have been identified to increase frictional resistance in orthodontic archwires are saliva and masticatory forces.[1,4,16,38,66] Surface roughness of archwires is established to increase with time due to wear, corrosion, and deposition of plaque.[59,67,69,70,71] This roughening of the surface is accompanied, especially for Ni-Ti and TMA archwires, by a related increase in friction.[24,53,72,73,74] Even SS archwires, initially smooth, become rough after extended intraoral use, hence compromising the effectiveness of frictionless sliding mechanics.[4,5,7,75]

The main factor for increased friction of archwires is the disruption of the oxide layer, which forms on the surface of many metallic archwires. The oxide layer acts as a barrier to corrosion[7,76,77,78,79] while its disruption leads to an increase in friction and the initiation of corrosion processes.[45,53,69,80] Comparison studies between SS and Ni-Ti archwires have also indicated that SS archwires tend to exhibit a lower coefficient of friction but are less effective in re-passivation compared to Ni–Ti.[59,76,80,81,82] Although more flexible, Ni–Ti archwires also tend to have a higher susceptibility to surface degradation that could affect their performance over time.[7,83]

Saliva has a very important role in the oral environment. While it acts as a medium for lubrication of the bracket-archwire interface, its pH value is one of the major determinants of surface properties. Acidic conditions, maintained in the oral cavity, may raise the surface roughness, and further enhance frictional forces.[38,66,84]

The effects of fluoride and corrosion

Fluoride, which is conventionally used to prevent caries, is the other most influential environmental factor affecting the integrity of orthodontic archwires. Fluoride has been reported to enhance the surface roughness of the archwire due to interference with the protective oxide layer that results in corrosion.[59,65,85,86,87,88] Contact of these alloy wires, Ni-Ti, and TMA, with fluoride ions makes them highly prone to corrosion with enhanced frictional resistance.[46,78,79,89,90,91,92,93,94,95] Hydrogen embrittlement increased the ability of corrosion, which has affected the mechanical properties of the archwire very adversely, notable among them are elasticity and yield strength.[65,96] Interestingly, some studies suggest that short, repeated exposures to fluoride may cause more significant surface degradation than fewer, longer exposures.[97,98] Such issues have already urged some authors to propose minimal exposure of fluoride in the case of patients having Ni-Ti archwires and propose other products such as Casein Phospho-Peptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate complexes (CPP-ACP).[85,99] In response, other researchers believe that the influence of fluoride on Ni-Ti is often not clinically relevant.[100,101] For these issues of fluoride-related degradation and improving corrosion resistance, several coating works have been done on Ni-Ti and TMA archwires. Among those, titanium nitride and some other protective material-based coatings show some promising results, but for those coatings, the nature and quality of the coated material play a very important role in their effectiveness, as discussed previously.[60,85,86]

Oral hygiene practices and surface wear

Oral hygiene practices, especially those regarding tooth brushing, have a great impact on the surface properties of orthodontic archwires. In the comparative studies on manual and mechanical tooth brushing, it was established that mechanical brushing can intensify the degree of surface wear, especially on composite materials.[48,61,68,102]

Application of antimicrobial agents such as chlorhexidine and herbal-based mouthwashes showed ambiguous results regarding its’ consequences on the surface change to the archwire. Some studies reported that these agents contributed to an increase in the surface roughness, possibly leading to higher friction.[103,104,105] While others reported no effect.[9,106] In the same way, pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements can affect the surface properties of archwires. For instance, Salbutamol sulfate increases the surface roughening in TMA and Cu-NiTi archwires. Also, Rhodium-coated Ni-Ti archwires have been found to be corroded after exposure to probiotic supplements.[83,107]

Bracket material and design

The material and design of orthodontic brackets can each significantly affect frictional forces during tooth movement and hence the efficiency of orthodontic treatment.[1,2,25,70,75,108] In addition to the influence of the type of bracket, previous research has focused on specific interactions that occur between the bracket and archwire.[66,109,110] Therefore, in the following section, we will review the various influences that bracket materials, bracket design, and surface characteristics may exert on frictional resistance, whether for individual applications or patient treatment outcomes.

Influence of bracket material on friction

Friction properties of orthodontic brackets depend both on their material and their interaction with the archwire. Metal brackets, manufactured from SS, creates less friction compared to ceramic brackets.[1,2,111] This is mainly because metal brackets have smoother surfaces, superior in mechanical properties, which ensure easier sliding of the archwire. Ceramic brackets, on the other hand, are more fragile and often have a rough texture that produces higher friction.[111,112] Moreover, certain combinations of ceramic brackets with an archwire (such as either beta titanium or NiTi) can increase the frictional resistance, with the result that there would be greater wear and tear to both the bracket and archwire.[75] It has also been found that monocrystalline ceramic brackets show less frictional resistance than polycrystalline ones.[25]

Geometry and bracket type

Self-ligating brackets, which are designed to hold the archwire without the use of traditional ligatures, have been considered to cause less friction in comparison with the conventional type.[70,113,114,115] Self-ligating brackets demonstrated especially low friction with round archwires with minimal angulation between the bracket and the archwire.[113] In contrast, traditional brackets that depend on elastomeric ligatures tend to generate higher frictional forces, especially in sliding mechanics.[111,116,117,118,119] Higher friction in these systems often results in less efficient tooth movement and longer treatment times. Besides, the geometry of the bracket slot can also influence friction. Brackets with wider slots may reduce friction by allowing the archwire to move more freely while narrow slots may increase frictional forces.[70]

Surface roughness of the bracket/archwire interface and its role in friction

Surface roughness is a key determinant of friction in orthodontic appliances. The frictional resistance between the bracket and archwire increases with the roughness of the bracket surface.[112,120] This is particularly true when brackets become contaminated with plaque or subjected to wear during treatment. Rougher surfaces, especially those resulting from corrosion or bacterial accumulation, increase the resistance to archwire movement, reducing the sliding mechanics efficiency.

Surface modification like coatings of brackets reduces frictional forces by providing a smooth contact surface, as identified by Bhat et al.[25] However, the long-term performance of such coatings remains questionable as explained before. Studies have shown that the material and shape of the archwire have a substantial effect on the friction generated between the archwire and the bracket.[7,16,66,109] Archwires made from highly flexible materials, such as Ni-Ti or TMA, tend to generate more friction when used with metal brackets compared to stiffer archwires such as SS.[27] This is mainly due to the increased deforming ability of flexible archwires and creating more surface contact with the bracket, hence increasing frictional resistance. Also, the diameter of the archwire is directly proportional to friction; larger diameter archwires are expected to produce higher frictional forces because of the increased surface area.[121] The shape of the archwire, round or rectangular, also influences the magnitude of friction. Rectangular archwires are expected to produce more friction because they have a greater contact area with the bracket slot.[67,109]

Orthodontic ligation: Some factors affecting friction

Orthodontic ligatures, either elastic or steel ties, have been considered important modalities in the management of friction during orthodontic treatment. The type material of the ligature and its influence on frictional forces at the bracket-archwire interface have been the subject of several studies. Studied measuring the friction produced by polymer-coated elastic ligatures and conventional elastic ligatures concluded that the type of elastic ligature did not significantly affect friction, while the method of ligation was considered a determining factor. Indeed, the figure-of-8 ligation technique has shown more friction compared to other ligation techniques.[117,119] This agrees with studies that have reported that the mode of ligation is an essential determinant of frictional resistance.[122,123] Overall, steel ligatures usually generate less friction as compared to elastic ties.[124] These results are in agreement with Bazakidou et al.[125] and Hain et al.[122] In contrast, another study showed that steel ties generated higher friction than elastic ties when combined with conventional brackets, though friction levels were not significantly affected by the tightness of steel ties.[116] On the other hand, self-ligating brackets have always shown lower friction than conventional brackets, regardless of ligation type.[70,113,114,126] Further comparisons of the various types of ligatures also showed that low-friction ligatures functioned better with round archwires, and the material composition of the archwire itself had very little influence on friction.[55,118] Elastic ligatures and steel ties add to friction, while self-ligating brackets and optimized ligation techniques seem to reduce friction and offer maximum effectiveness in tooth movement.[1,116,119]

Limitations

While the quality of the studies varies, many studies provide valuable insights into the physical properties and performance of orthodontic materials. However, most of them are in-vitro, meaning they do not fully simulate real clinical conditions. Bias risks such as sample selection and in-vitro conditions need to be taken into account. A potential publication bias might exist due to the nature of the journals in which these studies are published, often specialized in orthodontics and materials science.

Conclusion

Material composition, surface finish, and coating are critical factors influencing the frictional forces of orthodontic archwires, with direct consequences on treatment efficiency and comfort. Frictional resistance at the bracket–archwire interface affects tooth movement, treatment duration, and force dynamics. Therefore, selecting the appropriate archwire and bracket system is essential for optimizing orthodontic treatment outcomes. Clinicians must carefully balance aesthetics and function at every stage of treatment, selecting materials and designs that minimize friction while aligning with specific treatment goals. This approach ensures effective orthodontic tooth movement and enhances patient comfort throughout care.

Consent for publication

Informed consent for publication was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding Statement

No external funding was obtained for this study.