The DERHT Method Application in Orthodontic Practice

Teeth movement depends on forces which move teeth indirectly by stimulating the cellular activity in the surrounding periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. It is recommended that such structures of periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone be stimulated by light and continuous forces; as such forces are biologic avoiding the secondary side effects of roots and bone resorption. NiTi wires have that ability to move the teeth in a fast and healthy manner delivering a low and continuous level of force. However, the dilemma of NiTi wires was in their difficulty to bend properly without losing their properties of shape memory and superelasticity.

Nonetheless, several ways and approaches were attempted to surmount the aforementioned difficulty, bend NiTi wires and simultaneously keep their superelastic properties, some of these ways and approaches are: DERHT Method, DHAHT Method “ Direct Hot Air Heating Treatment”, Robot Machine Bender and hot salt bath with proper molds.

Keywords: Shape Memory Alloys “SMA”, Nickel Titanium, DERHT, Superelasticity, Springiness, Bending NiTi wires, Lingual Orthodontics, dental movement.