The influence of orthodontic bracket base diameter and mesh size on bond strength

Previous studies have shown that the size of the foil mesh and surface area of the bracket base correlated to bond strength to tooth enamel. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets with 80 and 100 gauge mesh bases as well as mini and standard size bases. Eighty extracted human premolar teeth were randomly allocated into four groups of twenty teeth each. Premolar brackets of different mesh and bracket base area sizes were bonded to the enamel with a conventional 'two paste' orthodontic bonding agent. The SBS was determined and the bond failure sites were assessed using light-optical microscope and SEM. Bond failure occurred in all groups primarily at the bracket/adhesive interface. Mean values for SBS were 9.97 +/- 2.94 MPa and 10.72 +/- 2.54 MPa for 80 gauge mini and standard size respectively, and 10.45 +/- 3.27 MPa and 11.39 +/- 3.32 MPa for 100 gauge mini and standard size. A one-way ANOVA and an unpaired t-test revealed no significant difference in mean SBS (P > 0.05) between 80 and 100 gauge mini and standard size brackets, and no significant difference in mean SBS between brackets of the same surface area with a different gauge mesh size. The clinical relevance of this finding is that the clinician can select smaller brackets with no reduction in effectiveness of the treatment procedure.