What is one potential effect of using flexible wires in orthodontic treatment?

The use of flexible wires in orthodontic treatment primarily leads to a reduction in pressure on teeth. Flexible wires are designed to allow for some degree of movement and adaptive bending, which means they don’t exert constant rigid force on the teeth. This flexibility allows the teeth to experience a gentler, more gradual movement.

By reducing the pressure exerted on the teeth, flexible wires help minimize discomfort for patients while still enabling effective tooth movement. A more gentle approach can facilitate patient compliance and may lead to a more favorable biological response from the periodontal tissues, thus supporting overall treatment objectives.

Other possibilities, such as greater control over tooth positioning or faster corrective movement, are generally achieved with stiffer wires that provide more mechanical advantage but may not offer the same level of comfort. Similarly, while the use of flexible wires can sometimes result in prolonged treatment times compared to stiffer options, the key focus on flexibility is its ability to reduce pressure, making this option the most aligned with the specific context of the question.