FAQ
- Why aren't there any translucent orthodontic retainer wires in the market today?
- How was BioMers able to develop effective translucent retainer orthodontic wires?
- How do you know the ASTICS retainer works?
- What is the aesthetic performance of the ASTICS retainer?
- How different is the ASTICS from the QCM?
Additional FAQ for doctors, labs and patients are available for download on the resources page.
Why aren't there any translucent orthodontic retainer wires in the market today?
No translucent orthodontic retainer 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 retainer 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 retainer wire required a breakthrough in the field of engineered materials.
BioMers Product has made that breakthrough. BioMers is the first company to develop a translucent orthodontic retainer wire, the ASTICS, with equivalent mechanical properties to metal retainer wire.
How was BioMers able to develop effective translucent retainer orthodontic wires?
BioMers successfully developed the first translucent retainer wire through careful selection of constituent materials and by using a patented polymer composite fabrication process. The ASTICS 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 the translucent polymer resin ensures the wire is not clearly visible when in use. Because of the flexible outer sheath, wires can be customized to fit closely to an individual's arch form and labial tooth surfaces.
How do you know the ASTICS retainer works?
The ASTICS retainer has undergone extensive mechanical tests and patient-clinical evaluations at the largest U.S. orthodontic school to prove it will work in a clinical setting. These tests have shown that the ASTICS performs similarly to other retainers.
What is the aesthetic performance of the ASTICS retainer?
Dental restorative resins have been found to be color stable, and as the ASTICS wire is made with a dental resin, stain resistance is an inherent quality. However, to further prove that the ASTICS wire retains its aesthetic quality during treatment, the wires have undergone extensive laboratory and clinical testing.
How different is the ASTICS retainer from the QCM retainer?
Unlike the QCM wire which is made of a simple polymer, the ASTICS wire is a fiber reinforced composite. This makes the ASTICS retainer resistant to material fatigue, and thus, durable for long term use. The use of material that is insensitive to monomer and other chemical solvents also makes the ASTICS retainer far superior in durability and stain resistance.
Top View of the ASTICS Retainer