A comparison of the stresses developed in tension, shear peel, and torsion strength testing of direct bonded orthodontic brackets

Abstract

Strength testing of direct bonded orthodontic bracket systems is commonly performed with tension, shear peel, or torsion loads. In general, the results of these tests are reported as an average stress that is computed by dividing the experimentally measured force at failure by the area of the bracket base. The average value, obtained in this manner, implies an evenly distributed stress field. In this project, finite element model (FEM) calculations were used to determine the more realistic stress distributions generated within the cement. The results indicate that the three loading modes produce very different non-uniform stress field patterns. Furthermore, the calculated stress peaks and the stress component proportions depend on the loading method. It was therefore concluded that the manner of loading affects the strength measurements and that the average stress does not adequately characterize bond strength.