Effect of primer precuring on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets

Two adhesive systems, Transbond APC II (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) and Quick Cure (Reliance Orthodontic Products, Itasca, Ill), were used to determine the efficacy of precuring the liquid resin primer phase of the systems to increase shear bond strength. One hundred sixty bovine incisors were divided into groups of 20 specimens. In 1 group, the primer was cured before placement of the bracket with the filled adhesive material, and, in the other group, the primer was not precured. The shear-peel bond strength was tested with a testing machine at 30 minutes and 24 hours. No statistically significant difference in bond strength was found between the groups that had or had not been precured. More adhesive remained on the teeth with the Transbond when the primer was not precured. There is no advantage or disadvantage in bracket bond strength by precuring the primer before placing the bracket and filled component of the adhesive.