FAQ - BioMers Braces - Truly Aesthetic Translucent Arch Wires and Brackets




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BioMers Frequently Asked Questions Why aren’t there any translucent orthodontic wires in the market today? How was BioMers able to develop effective translucent orthodontic wires? How do you know the BioMers arch wires work? What is the aesthetic performance of the BioMers arch wire? How different are the BioMers arch wires from the coated aesthetic arch wires? Why aren’t there any translucent orthodontic wires in the market today? No translucent orthodontic wires are currently available in the market as no company has successfully developed a translucent wire with equivalent mechanical properties to metal wires. Developing a translucent orthodontic wire with equivalent mechanical properties to metal wires has in fact proven to be a very difficult task. The need for translucency and biocompatibility has limited the number of materials that can possibly be utilized in developing an orthodontic wire. Developing a translucent orthodontic wire required a breakthrough in the field of engineered materials. BioMers has made that breakthrough. BioMers is the first company to develop translucent orthodontic wires with equivalent mechanical properties to metal wires. Back to Top How was BioMers able to develop effective translucent orthodontic wires? BioMers successfully developed the first translucent arch wire through careful selection of constituent materials and by using a novel patent pending fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRPC) fabrication process. The BioMers wire is comprised of glass fibers as reinforcement and a polymer resin as the matrix. The glass fibers provide the necessary stiffness to straighten teeth, while translucent polymer resin ensures the wire is not clearly visible in usage. Together with the flexibility of the fabrication process, wires of differing strength and stiffness can be engineered by varying the reinforcement level WITHOUT compromising functionality. This allows BioMers to deliver aesthetic wires that are comparable to the current metal wires used in the three distinct stages of orthodontic treatment. Back to Top How do you know the BioMers arch wires work? The BioMers wires have undergone extensive mechanical tests and patient-clinical evaluations at two major U.S. orthodontic schools to prove they will work in a clinical setting. These tests have shown that BioMers possess similar characteristics to commercially available metal wires. Back to Top What is the aesthetic performance of the BioMers arch wire? Dental restorative resins have been found to be color stable, and as BioMers wires are made with a dental resin, stain resistance is an inherent quality. However, to further prove that the BioMers wire does retain its aesthetic quality during treatment, the wires are tested by subjection to intense brushing cycles as well as abrasion from various food particles. Staining is also a major concern of orthodontists and patients. To validate the stain resistance of the BioMers wire, a comprehensive and rigorous stain test was conducted, using natural food substances and dye which patients have been advised against. Back to Top How different are the BioMers arch wires from the coated aesthetic arch wires? The only aesthetic orthodontic wires currently available are metal wires coated with a tooth colored Teflon material. A tooth colored Teflon coated wire is opaque and hence, does not blend into a patient’s teeth. The aesthetics are therefore inferior to the translucent BioMers wire. The BioMers arch wire is completely translucent and blends into a patient’s teeth. Other than the aesthetics, the BioMers arch wires possess superior mechanical properties as compared to the Teflon coated arch wires in the following ways: A study conducted by the School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester observed that the Teflon coated wires have shown significant difference in force levels during loading and unloading compared to the metal wires of similar diameter. Extensive testing has shown that BioMers wires show comparable properties to metal wires. Thus, BioMers wires allow for a continuous and predictable force application throughout the course of treatment compared to the coated arch wires. Arch wires are subjected to wear and tear by friction with the brackets, brushing, eating and other such activities. The Teflon coating is known to chip off exposing the underlying metal layer. The BioMers wire has no such problems as it is made of one consistent material. There is no coating to be worn off. Further, BioMers wires result in less friction as compared to coated wires. BioMers arch wires also exhibit excellent resistance to staining during the long periods of time in the oral cavity as it is an inherent property of the polymer used. The surface of the Teflon coating is known to stain over time and causes degradation of the aesthetics over time. Back to Top