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Metal strength of direct bonding brackets
Summary
Direct bonding bracket strength varies widely among brands. Precipitation hardened steel (PH 17-4) brackets are hardest but less corrosion resistant than austenitic 316L steel, indicating a need for stronger, chemically resistant options.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Orthodontic Technology
Background:
- The mechanical strength of direct bonding brackets is crucial for orthodontic treatment efficacy.
- Measuring bracket strength directly is challenging, necessitating alternative property assessments.
- Microhardness is a key indicator of material strength and wear resistance in dental materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the microhardness of popular U.S. direct bonding bracket brands.
- To compare the mechanical properties of different bracket materials.
- To assess the trade-offs between strength and corrosion resistance in orthodontic brackets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Vickers-Hanemann microhardness apparatus for testing.
- Tested twelve different brands of direct bonding brackets available in the U.S. market.
- Correlated microhardness values with the specific steel alloys used in bracket manufacturing.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated significant variations in microhardness across tested bracket brands.
- Identified precipitation hardened steel (PH 17-4) as yielding the highest microhardness values.
- Observed that austenitic 316L steel exhibited the lowest microhardness values among the tested brands.
Conclusions:
- Precipitation hardened steel (PH 17-4) offers superior hardness but reduced corrosion resistance compared to austenitic 316L.
- Current direct bonding bracket options present a compromise between mechanical strength and chemical durability.
- Further development is needed to create orthodontic attachments that are both robust and highly corrosion resistant.