In vitro evaluation of matrix-bound fluoride-releasing orthodontic bonding adhesives

Sustained fluoride-releasing composite resins have the potential to prevent decalcification of enamel that may occur during the course of orthodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of matrix-bound fluoride-releasing adhesives (MBF) for orthodontic use by comparing the shear bond strengths (in MPa) and remnant adhesive on debonding (ARI scores) of these resins with commercially available orthodontic adhesives. Two types of resins were evaluated in separate groups: The light-cured resins (group I) consisted of two light-cured MBF, designated resins LA and LB, and five nonfluoride releasing resins, designated LC, LD, LE, LF, and LG. The self-cured resins (group II) consisted of one MBF, designated resin SA, and six nonfluoride releasing resins, designated resins SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, and SG. These resins were used to attach upper right central incisor metal (foil mesh based) orthodontic brackets to 210 freshly extracted bovine incisors in groups of 15 each. Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparison tests were performed at p < 0.05 to determine significant differences among the resin types. Resin LA was significantly higher in bond strength (mean = 27.4 MPa) compared with LD and LG (mean = 18.9, 10.7 MPa, respectively). Further, LA demonstrated a higher mean bond strength compared with LB, LC, LE, and LF (mean = 21.9, 24.1, 24.3, and 20.8 MPa, respectively). Resin LB had significantly lower ARI scores (mean = 0.33) compared with LF and LG (mean = 1.20 and 1.80). LA, LB, LC, LD, and LE (mean = 0.47, 0.33, 0.60, 0.73, and 0.73, respectively) were not significantly different in their ARI scores. Resin SB demonstrated significantly lower bond strength (mean = 17.2 MPa) compared with SC, SD, SE, SF, and SG (mean = 23.9, 23.7, 23.4, 23.8, and 22.9 MPa, respectively). Resin SA (mean = 19.0 MPa) was not significantly different in bond strength from SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, and SG. Resin SA demonstrated significantly lower ARI scores (mean = 0.73) compared with SD and SE (mean = 2.13 and 1.87). Resin SA had lower mean ARI scores compared with SB, SC, SF, and SG (mean = 1.00, 1.27, 1.13 and 0.87, respectively). Sustained fluoride-releasing (matrix-bound) orthodontic adhesive systems demonstrated bond strength and ARI scores that compared favorably with commercially available orthodontic adhesives.