Evaluation of different LED light-curing devices for bonding metallic orthodontic brackets

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Orthodontics
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Effective light-curing is crucial for reliable orthodontic bracket bonding.
• Assessing the performance of various light-emitting diode (LED) devices is essential for optimizing clinical outcomes.
• Traditional halogen lights are being replaced by more efficient LED curing units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of different LED light-curing devices on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets.
• To compare the efficacy of Ortholux LED, Ultraled XP, and Radii LED against a halogen control.
• To analyze the adhesive remnant index (ARI) following bracket debonding.

Main Methods:

• Sixty bovine incisor crowns were bonded with Transbond XT and divided into four groups: Halogen (HL), Ortholux LED (OR), Ultraled XP (UL), and Radii LED (RD).
• Shear bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine.
• Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) was assessed using a stereoscopic magnifying glass.
• Statistical analysis included ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Kruskal-Wallis test.

Main Results:

• The Ortholux LED (OR) group exhibited the highest mean shear bond strength (12.70 MPa), followed by Radii LED (RD) (11.22 MPa).
• Halogen light (HL) showed significantly lower bond strength compared to OR and RD groups (p<0.05).
• No statistically significant differences were found in the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) among the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Ortholux LED and Radii LED light-curing devices provide superior shear bond strength for orthodontic brackets.
• LED curing technology offers a promising alternative to traditional halogen lights for bracket bonding.
• Further research may explore long-term bond durability and clinical implications.