Beta-Titanium in Orthodontics: Composition, Properties, Advantages

Beta Titanium

Write briefly on Beta-Titanium.
Answer:

A titanium–molybdenum alloy known as beta-titanium is used as a wrought orthodontic wire. Beta-titanium was introduced in orthodontics by Burstone and Goldberg in 1979.

At a temperature of more than 885°C pure titanium rearranges into a body-centered cubic lattice referred to as the beta phase. By the addition of elements such as molybdenum, columbium, vanadium, niobium, cobalt, copper, and silicone, a titanium-based alloy can maintain its beta structure when cooled to room temperature such alloys are called as beta stabilized titanium.

Composition Of Beta-Titanium:

Advantages Of Beta-Titanium:

• Beta-titanium alloys are much better as compared to the other alloys, they have the balance of properties, a clinician needs, i.e.
• They have high elasticity, low stiffess, formability, and ease of joining.
• Delivery of force is 0.4 times the force of stainless steel and still, they are deflected twice without any deformation.
• Beta-titanium wires are the only major orthodontic wires which possess true weldability and clinically satisfactory joints which are made by electrical resistance welding.
• Formability is excellent due to the body-centered-cubic structure which allows many of the slip systems which are available for the dislocation movement.
• Beta-titanium wires deliver low biomechanical forces when the comparison is done between stainless steel and cobalt-chromium-alloys.
• As these wires have the passivating effect of titanium dioxide they have excellent tarnish and corrosion resistance.
• The potential for allergy and hypersensitivity is low with beta-titanium alloys.
• In an oral environment, beta-titanium alloys are biocompatible and stable.

Disadvantages Of  Beta-Titanium:

• Beta-titanium alloys have high surface roughness which leads to high frictional forces.
• Their cost is high.

Clinical Applications Of  Beta-Titanium:

• These wires are used for the majority of procedures at the time of orthodontic treatment.
• Beta-titanium wires are used for orthodontic procedures such as bite opening, space closure, retraction, and correction of various minor.