ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is lo present the force decay of intraoral latex elastics supplied from 4 different companies which one stretched to 3 different lengths in dry and wet environment for 1 hour, 24 hour and 7 days. In the study 1/4 ” medium intraoral elastics supplied from GAC, ORMCO, DENTAURUM and AMERICAN ORTHODONTICS companies were used. Elastics are stretched to 3,4 and 5 limes of their original lumen diameter and are left firstly in dry environment and in artificial saliva as a simulated oral environment at 37° C constant temparature, for 0, 1, 24 hours and 7 days period, 10 samples from each supplier company are stretched on the universal testing machine and their force levels are determined. Values obtained from each of 10 samples are evaluated statistically with ANOVA. In all groups, force decay is found to be the least in the first hour and reaches different values at 24 hours and 7 days respectively. This emphasizes the importance of the time factor. As the extension increased, force decay also increased and it was found to be greater in wet environment. This finding also emphasizes the importance of the oral environment, its temparature and the effect of saliva. Also, a difference was observed between companies, regarding initial force and force decay.