Development of a Device Prototype for Orthodontic Debonding Force Measurement

Abstract

Orthodontic fixed appliance therapy involves rigid attachments like brackets, molar tubes etc. bonded on teeth surface for transferring forces in moving teeth. After the treatment, these attachments are debonded by pliers. The debonding forces leads to pain and discomfort for the patients during the procedure. There are no ways of measuring this force which is uncontrolled and within the expertise of the clinicians. Our objective was to design a device prototype for measuring the debonding forces. The design consists of Force Sensitive Resistors (FSR) mounted on the debonding plier which is connected to a constructed circuit with a microcontroller. A two-layer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) was fabricated which is connected to the microcontroller and measures the forces applied on the plier handle through an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). A single buccal tube bonded on artificial molar teeth samples were debonded by the clinician author in a horizontal rotating direction which measured the mean debonding force as 6.88 N (688 grams). Thus, our prototype design clearly showed the possibility of accurately measuring the debonding forces useful for clinical application and to maintain forces within patient comfort levels.