Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) Arch Wires: The Clinical Significance of Super Elasticity

The introduction of nickel-titanium (NiTi) wires has revolutionized the field of orthodontics by delivering light continuous forces over a wider range of displacements than the traditional stainless-steel wires. Over the years improvements in NiTi wire manufacturing and composition have been introduced; however, the claimed wire capabilities are not always easy to verify in the clinical setting. We aim at presenting an overview of the use and applications of NiTi alloys in orthodontics. The implications of the metallurgical and mechanical properties and intraoral aging of the wires in their clinical application is discussed. Finally, time variants of orthodontic therapy duration with the use of NiTi and alternative arch wires are presented, and the clinical implication of superelasticity is analyzed.