Effect of Hyperglycemic Artificial Saliva on Corrosion of and Metal Ion Release from Archwires

Authors

  • Shaymaa Shaker Taha BDS, M.Sc. in Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad-Bab Al-Moadhum;
  • Samher Ali Al-Shaham BDS, M.Sc. in Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad-Bab Al-Moadhum;
  • Alan Issa Saleem BDS, M.Sc. in Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad-Bab Al-Moadhum;
  • Fudhla S. Al Zubaydi BDS, M.Sc. in Orthodontics, Presidency of the University of Baghdad Al-Jadriya, Postal Code 10071, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/d3000.2026.1541

Keywords:

Saliva, Diabetes, Orthodontics, Occlusion

Abstract

Alterations in the intraoral conditions, especially raised glucose concentrations, may compromise the surface integrity of archwire materials enhancing metallic ion elution. The purpose of the present in vitro study was to assess the effect of artificial saliva in high glucose conditions on corrosion behavior, surface deterioration, color change and release of metal ions from various rectangular orthodontic archwires. Three commercially available orthodontic archwire types were compared: stainless steel (SS), nickel–titanium (NiTi) and beta-titanium (β-Ti). A total of 180 wire specimens were equally distributed into four immersion media: glucose-free artificial saliva (control), artificial saliva containing 10 mmol/L glucose, 20 mmol/L glucose, and 30 mmol/L glucose. Specimens were immersed for 28 days at 37°C. Surface morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental composition by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), surface roughness using atomic force microscopy (AFM), color change (ΔE) using a spectrophotometer, and metal ion release (Ni, Cr, Fe, and Ti) using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with statistical significance established at p < 0.05. Glucose-enriched artificial saliva significantly increased surface roughness in all orthodontic archwires across glucose concentrations (p < 0.001). The values of surface roughness gradually increased as the glucose concentration increased. The Ni ion release from NiTi wires was 0.82 ± 0.14 µg/L in the control group and 3.96 ± 0.42 µg/L after 28 days of immersion in the 30 mmol/L glucose enriched artificial saliva (p < 0.001). The chromium and iron releases were also significantly increased from stainless steel wires in high-glucose conditions, while the Beta-Ti wires showed the fewest corrosion-related changes with minimal release of titanium ions. Groups with glucose enrichment had greater color change (ΔE). Beta-titanium samples exhibited lower surface degradation. Glucose-enriched artificial saliva increased surface roughness, release of metal ions, surface degradation and color change of orthodontic archwires in a concentration-dependent manner. Beta-titanium archwires showed fewer corrosion changes than nickel–titanium and stainless-steel wires.

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Published

2026-08-18

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Development of Craniofacial Structures

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Copyright (c) 2026 Shaymaa Shaker Taha, Samher Ali Al-Shaham , Alan Issa Saleem, Fudhla S. Al Zubaydi

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