Decalcification in relation to brackets bonded with glass ionomer cement or a resin adhesive

Forty randomly selected patients had brackets bonded on one side of the oi the maxillary labial segment with glass ionomer cement. Teeth on the opposi te side were bonded with a resin adhesive. Teeth were assessed for decalcif ication pretreatment, at debond, and at review using a standardized photogr aphic technique and a modified DDE index. The mean number of teeth affected by decalcification and the mean extent of decalcification per tooth increa sed during the treatment period, but from debond to review both of these me asurements decreased fur teeth bonded with either material (p<0.01, t-test) . Decalcification appears to become less severe posttreatment, but does not appear to be significantly affected during 12 to18 months of orthodontic t reatment by bonding with glass ionomer cement. Dietary and other environmen tal factors, including fluoride preparations, may be of greater importance in the prevention of decalcification during fixed appliance therapy.