AIR ABRASION OF FAILED BONDED METAL BRACKETS - A STUDY OF SHEAR BOND STRENGTH AND SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS AS DETERMINED BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY
Al. Sonis, AIR ABRASION OF FAILED BONDED METAL BRACKETS - A STUDY OF SHEAR BOND STRENGTH AND SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS AS DETERMINED BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 110(1), 1996, pp. 96-98
Failed bonded orthodontic brackets generally require their replacement
with a new bracket. The introduction of air abrasion (microetching) t
echnology to orthodontics may allow for immediate use of these failed
brackets. This study compared the in vitro shear bond strengths of pre
viously failed bonded metal brackets (experimental group) subjected to
air abrasion with new untreated brackets (control group). All bonding
used a light-cured orthodontic bonding system, In addition, represent
ative samples from each group were examined by scanning electron micro
scopy. The results of this study found no significant differences in s
hear bond strengths between the two groups. Scanning electron microsco
py examination of the air abraded brackets revealed a roughened mesh s
urface with residual bonded material in the bracket base, This simple
technique should allow for the immediate reuse of previously failed bo
nded metal brackets.