Orthodontic Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Orthodontic, including details on braces, retainers, treatment.

Effects of etchants and primers on shear bond strength of a self-ligating esthetic orthodontic bracket.

Chalgren R, Combe EC, Wahl AJ

School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.

INTRODUCTION: Damon 3 orthodontic brackets (Ormco, Orange, Calif), combining a self-ligating bracket with a composite bracket pad were the subject of an in-vitro bonding study to determine the shear bond strength to enamel and adhesive remaining on the teeth with various enamel and bracket preparation procedures. METHODS: A 3 x 2 factorial design was selected with the following factors as variations of the enamel preparation: liquid phosphoric acid etchant followed by primer (Ortho Solo; Ormco), gel phosphoric acid etchant followed by primer, and self-etching primer (Transbond Plus; 3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif). The second factor was a primer (Ortho Solo) either applied to the bracket pad or absent as a control. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed in shear bond strengths, with group average estimates ranging from 14.5 to 16.6 MPa. Debonding predominantly occurred at the bracket-pad interface with no significant differences in adhesive remaining on the teeth. CONCLUSIONS: This in-vitro study indicated that self-etching primer, gel etchant, and liquid etchant produce equal and sufficient bond strengths. Furthermore, application of primer to the bracket pad does not improve bond strength.

Published 16 November 2007 in Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 132(5): 577.e1-5.
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