Comparison of enamel colour changes associated with orthodontic bonding using two different adhesives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the enamel colour changes associated with bonding of brackets with a no-mix (one-phase) adhesive resin (Unite) and a glass-ionomer adhesive (GC Fuji Ortho). Thirty recently extracted premolars were used in the investigation. Black rectangular pieces of adhesive tape with a 3-mm diameter window were used to standardize the enamel surface intended for analysis. The teeth were divided into two groups of 15 teeth each, brackets (Starfire TMB) were bonded with the two adhesives, and the enamel surfaces were colourimetrically evaluated at three time intervals: (a) before bonding (baseline), (b) following debonding and cleaning, and (c) after artificial photo-ageing for 24 hours. The CIE colour parameters (L*, a*, b*) were recorded and averaged for each material, interval group, and the corresponding colour differences (delta E) were calculated. The results were statistically analysed using two-way ANOVA repeated measures, and Scheffé multiple range test at alpha = 0.05 level of significance. All differences noted exceeded the threshold for clinical detection (delta E = 3.7). The highest differences were recorded for the baseline-debonding interval for both adhesives used. No difference was found with respect to delta E between etching-mediated and no etching-mediated bonding implying that the debonding cleaning process involving adhesive grinding may be more invasive relative to acid etching with regard to enamel colour alterations.