[Enhancement of enamel crystallinity with gel method during orthodontic treatment. The 2nd report: application of...

This study is to review an effect on the improvement of enamel crystallinity with gel method in the course of orthodontic treatment by applying gelatin gel method (group II) as well as silica-hydro gel method (group I) to bracket-bonded enamel surfaces of extracted teeth and for a relative review, the chopped cross sections of the above teeth were analyzed by the method of micro area X-ray diffraction. The results obtained were as follows: 1. As a result of identifying by the method of microarea X-ray diffraction, the present of hydroxyapatite, Ca5(PO4)3OH and fluorapatite, Ca5(PO4)3F was recognized at any section of every group. 2. In making a relative study of the variation of line profile and peak shift, an outstanding difference was not acknowledged in line profile, however, peak shift in the direction of high angle side was indicated on the experimental side of each group and a tendency for peak shift was more noticeable near by enamel cuticle. At boundary sites and on the control side, the variation was only shown in one part of group II. Also a tendency for peak shift in the direction of high angle side was recognized in group I rather than in group II. From the foregoing results, it was found to be effective to improve tooth substance of the bracket-bonded enamel and in that event, the silica-hydro gel method was suggested to be superior to the gelatin gel method. Also with the regard to the bracket-bonded sides, tooth substance was noticeably improved at enamel cuticle but not sufficiently improved at sites underneath the brackets and at boundary sites of the both, therefore, one of the future subjects would be to review such areas.