Thermal image analysis of electrothermal debonding of ceramic brackets: anin vitro study

This study used modern thermal imaging techniques to investigate the temper ature rise induced at the pulpal walt during thermal debonding of ceramic b rackets. Ceramic brackets were debonded from vertically sectioned premolar teeth using an electrothermal debonding unit. Ten teeth were debonded at th e end of a single 3-second heating cycle. For a further group of 10 teeth, the bracket and heating element were left in contact with the tooth during the 3-second heating cycle and the g-second cooling cycle. The average pulp al wall temperature increase for the teeth debonded at the end of the 3-sec ond heating cycle was 16.8 degrees C. When the heating element and bracket remained in contact with the tooth during the 6-second cooling cycle an ave rage temperature increase of 45.6 degrees C was recorded.