The study aimed to compare mechanical properties and surface characteristics of initial and working
aesthetic archwires with their conventional counterparts. High Aesthetic Sentalloy (full rhodium coating
nickel-titanium; Dentsply GAC) represented the initial aesthetic archwires; and FLI TRU-CHROME
(labial PTFE-coated stainless steel; RMO) as the working aesthetic archwires; together with their
conventional counterparts were analysed. A three point bending test was conducted using a universal
testing machine (AGS-X SERIES, Shimadzu, Japan) to determine the load-deflection characteristics of
archwires. Surface hardness was evaluated by Vickers microhardness test (HMV-FA, Shimadzu, Japan).
A 3D Optical Surface Texture Analyzer (ALICONA, InfiniteFocus Real3D, Belgium) and a Field Emission
Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM, FEI Quanta 250, USA) were used for surface evaluation.
Results showed that load-deflection characteristics of High Aesthetic Sentalloy archwires did not differ
from its control, whereas FLI TRU-CHROME archwires exhibited higher loading and unloading forces
than its counterpart. No statistically significant difference in surface hardness was found between FLI
TRU-CHROME and its control archwires. The coating surfaces of both aesthetic archwires were rougher
than the non-coated conventional archwires, with similar roughness between non-coated surface of FLI
TRU-CHROME archwires and its counterpart. FLI TRU-CHROME archwires showed a distinct coating
thickness but coating layer is undefined in High Aesthetic Sentalloy archwires. In conclusion, the aesthetic
rhodium coated nickel titanium archwire has similar mechanical properties as control nickel titanium
archwire without being adversely affected by the addition of the coating layer. The aesthetic coated PTFE
stainless steel archwire has higher load response which could be an advantage as rigid wire in working
stage of orthodontic treatment. Based on their performance, their use could be recommended in cases
where aesthetic aspect is crucial and where the friction aspect is not critical as their surface roughness
values increased.