The effect of porcelain surface conditioning on bonding orthodontic brackets

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new self-etching primer/ adhesive used to enhance the shear strength of orthodontic brackets bonded to porcelain surfaces. Forty-five porcelain maxillary central incisor teeth were used in the study. The teeth were divided randomly into three groups: group I (control), the porcelain teeth were etched with 37% phosphoric acid followed by a sealant and the brackets were bonded with a composite adhesive; group II, the porcelain teeth were microetched and hydrofluoric acid and silane applied and metal brackets were then bonded with the composite adhesive; and group III, the porcelain teeth were etched with phosphoric acid and a self-etching primer/adhesive applied before bonding. Brackets precoated with the adhesive were used on all three groups of teeth. All teeth were stored for 24 hours at 37 degrees C before debonding. The results of the analysis of variance (F = 10.7) indicated that there was a significant difference (P = .001) between the three groups. The mean shear bond strengths of conventional bonding using a 37% phosphoric acid and sealant was 4.4 +/- 2.7 MPa, whereas that of microetching followed by the application of hydrofluoric acid and silane was 11.2 +/- 4.7 MPa, and for the new self-etching primer/adhesive it was 10.3 +/- 5.3 MPa. The last two groups had the highest bond strength values and were not significantly different from each other.