Integrated Characterization by EDS and Roughness as a Diagnostic Tool for Dental Enamel Degradation: An In Vitro...

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Oral Health Research

Background:

• Fixed orthodontic treatment involves bonding brackets to tooth enamel, potentially causing surface alterations.
• Enamel degradation compromises tooth strength and increases susceptibility to caries and erosion.
• Accurate diagnosis of enamel changes is vital for evaluating preventive and restorative treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate enamel degradation after orthodontic bracket placement and removal using integrated methods.
• To assess the effectiveness of remineralization treatment on enamel surface integrity.
• To correlate enamel surface roughness with mineral composition changes.

Main Methods:

• Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and surface roughness measurements were employed.
• Enamel was analyzed at three stages: before bonding, after removal, and after remineralization.
• A repeated-measures design compared sapphire and metallic brackets, with Welch ANOVA and Games-Howell post hoc tests for analysis.

Main Results:

• Bracket removal significantly decreased enamel calcium and phosphorus content and sharply increased surface roughness.
• Remineralization treatment increased mineral content and decreased roughness, but did not fully restore initial enamel values.
• A mathematical model demonstrated a strong correlation between roughness, mineral composition, and treatment stage (R² > 0.98).

Conclusions:

• Orthodontic procedures alter enamel microtopography and mineral content, impacting oral health.
• Integrated EDS and roughness analysis provide a framework for assessing enamel degradation and remineralization effectiveness.
• Partial enamel recovery highlights the importance of post-orthodontic remineralization therapies and personalized treatment approaches.