In vitro evaluation of a ceramic bracket with a laser-structured base

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Orthodontic Research
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Assessing the performance of ceramic brackets is crucial for orthodontic treatment.
• Understanding shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant characteristics informs bracket selection.
• Evaluating enamel and bracket integrity post-testing ensures material safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of Discovery Pearl and Fascination 2 ceramic brackets.
• To assess adhesive remnant characteristics and the integrity of enamel and brackets after SBS testing.
• To compare the performance of Pearl and Fascination 2 ceramic brackets in an in vitro setting.

Main Methods:

• Sixty maxillary first premolars were bonded with either Pearl or Fascination 2 brackets.
• Samples underwent thermocycling (1000 cycles) followed by SBS testing.
• Statistical analyses included independent samples t-test, Weibull analysis, and chi-square test for ARI.

Main Results:

• Pearl brackets exhibited significantly higher mean SBS (13.01 ± 2.50 MPa) than Fascination 2 brackets (10.50 ± 2.61 MPa).
• A significant difference in adhesive remnant index (ARI) was observed, with a higher frequency of scores 2 and 3 for Pearl brackets.
• No enamel damage or bracket fracturing occurred in either group.

Conclusions:

• The Pearl ceramic bracket shows promising results in terms of shear bond strength and adhesive remnant characteristics.
• The in vitro findings support the potential for clinical investigation of the Pearl ceramic bracket.
• Both ceramic bracket types maintained excellent integrity of enamel and brackets throughout the study.