Arch Wire Sizes?

Message

#1 Post by **str8teeth** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:59 pm

Could someone please explain to me the difference between a 14, 15, and 16 arch wire? I heard the orthodontal tech asking the doctor which number right before getting my arch wire. I was just curious...
Thanks!

#2 Post by **Lisa65** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:07 pm

The numbers refer to the diameter of the wire in thousandths of an inch. A single number refers to a wire which is round in cross-section, so a "14" would actually be a wire which was .014" diameter. Later in treatment square or rectangular wires are used, so you might hear your ortho say something like 16x22, which would be the diameter of the rectangle in both directions.

#3 Post by **newmetal** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 3:31 pm

Ive found this topic interesting. So whith the increased diameter what does this mean? More strength?

Many Thanks

#4 Post by **acehigh** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:00 pm

Lisa65......I found your reply very interesting!!

I always wondered about those numbers. Right now I'm on 19/25 stainless steel archwires. Do you know if these are the strongest? I wonder if they will just stay on the rest of the treatment as they work on my overjet/overbite with the elastics.

#5 Post by **bracesafter40** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:31 pm

Yup, this is a cool topic; I have a 16 wire. Have since I started treatment on Feb. 28. I guess at some point I will get a bigger/thicker wire?

I keep hearing my Ortho saying, just put the same 16 wire on each time I go. My bottom wire has only been changed once and that was 'cause she had to cut it when I lost a bracket and she did not have time to re-cement it.

You can see it here - http://bp2.blogger.com/_iSOoKG3aTeM/Rme ... 43_mod.JPG

So what is the largest wire? What size wire do you all have?

#6 Post by **oceanblue** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:44 pm

I have been in a "16 square" on my top teeth FOREVER. That's as strong of a wire as they are going to use on me I guess because I have a removal date set . . .

#7 Post by **str8teeth** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:13 pm

Thank you all so very much for your replies to this! When I first got my braces last week, the tech ask the doc if he wanted a 15 or 16. He told her, "Let's go with a 14". So, ever since then I was wondering what this meant. I wasn't sure if it was the strength, wire size, or size of the arch (like the span of the arch). So I'm guessing now that I have a weaker strength one, thus the little to no pain that I've noticed? I assume they'll put a 15 or 16 in relatively soon. I also had no clue that they made any that weren't perfectly round. I figured they all just looked like what I had put in. At least now there won't be any surprises if he adds something larger, etc. next time!

#8 Post by **Lisa65** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:05 am

I started with a .012 on my top teeth, but they were very misaligned so they needed a very flexible wire to start with.