Misaligned teeth have a tremendous impact on oral and dental health, and the most efficient method of correcting the problem is orthodontic treatment with orthodontic appliances. The study was conducted to investigate the metal composition of selected orthodontic alloys, the release of metal ions, and the oxidative consequences that the metal ions may cause in the cell. Different sets of archwires, stainless steel brackets, and molar bands were incubated in artificial saliva for 90 days. The composition of each orthodontic material and quantification of the concentration of metal ions released were evaluated. Metal ion mixtures were prepared to determine the occurrence of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme defense system, and oxidative damage to proteins. The beta titanium alloy released the fewest metal ions and did not cause oxidative stress or protein damage. The metal ions from stainless steel and the cobalt-chromium alloy can cause oxidative stress and protein damage only at high concentrations. All metal ions from orthodontic alloys alter the activity of antioxidant enzymes in some way. The determined amounts of metal ions released from orthodontic appliances in a simulated oral environment are still below the maximum tolerated dose, and the concentrations of released metal ions are not capable of inducing oxidative stress, although some changes in antioxidant enzyme activity were observed at these concentrations.

The aim of this study was to explore whether changes in the salivary pH influence mechanical properties, surface roughness, and ion release from NiTi archwires with various surface coatings, and discuss the clinical significance of the findings. The uncoated, rhodium-coated, and nitrified NiTi wires were immersed into artificial saliva of different pH values (4.8, 5.1, 5.5, and 6.6). Released nickel and titanium ions were measured with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy at the end of 28 days. Atomic force microscopy was used to measure the arithmetic average surface roughness R_a, the root-mean-square roughness R_q, and the maximum height of the asperities R_Z. The nanoindentation hardness (H_IT) and Young’s modulus (E_IT) measurements were performed. The change in the pH of artificial saliva is inversely proportional to the release of titanium from both coated and uncoated wires, and the release of nickel from uncoated wires. The surface roughness parameters of both coated and uncoated wires are unaffected by the change in the pH of artificial saliva. The change in the pH of saliva has minor influence on the hardness and Young’s modulus of elasticity of both coated and uncoated wires. The concentration of released metal ions measured was below the recommended upper limit for daily intake; nevertheless, hypersensitivity effects cannot be excluded, even at lower concentrations and at low pH.