Abstract
A variety of orthodontic elastics were investigated: firstly to determine any change in length and consequent loss of force of selected orthodontic elastics when subjected to intra and intermaxillary forces under a simulated intra-oral environment (creep test); and secondly, to produce and interpret average stiffness graphs for each type of elastic tested.
Some types of elastic showed a considerable amount of creep and the force produced would fall off even after 1 hour of use, especially when they were employed for intermaxillary traction.
An Instron testing machine was used to produce stiffness graphs. The thinner elastics gave lower stiffness figures but the forces these elastics produced in the mouth were more predictable.
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