Enamel Surface Roughness after Debonding: A Comparative Study using Three Different Burs

To compare effects of three different burs, i.e., tungsten carbide bur, composite bur, and fiber glass bur on the surface roughness of enamel after debonding evaluated by means of profilometry.

The present study was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Guru Nanak Dev Dental College and Research Institute, Sunam, Punjab, India, from August 2011 to December 2012 on 36 extracted premolars. After mounting the samples in acrylic blocks with their buccal surfaces exposed, initial measurement of the surface roughness was made using profilometry. Teeth were then etched and brackets were bonded with light cure adhesive. After 3 days, the brackets were debonded using three different rotating burs at low speed, i.e., tungsten carbide bur, fiber glass bur, and composite bur. Enamel surface roughness values were obtained and assessed using paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, and post hoc multiple tests.

Surface roughness of enamel increased significantly for tungsten carbide bur when compared with fiber glass bur and composite bur. But there was no significant difference in the surface roughness value when fiber glass bur was compared with the composite bur.

Composite and fiber glass burs used for resin removal after orthodontic debonding produced a smoother enamel surface as compared with the tungsten carbide bur.

After an orthodontic treatment, restoring the enamel surface to its pretreatment condition without inducing any iatrogenic damage after debonding is a clinical challenge. Residual resin removal through proper means ensures a smooth surface, and, hence, a plaque-free environment. Finishing requires as much planning and execution as planned for the fixed therapy itself.