Invitro Study of the Effect of Different Samples of Water Used for Washing the Etchant on Bracket Bond Strength

Abstract

Background: Bonding is a very important step in the orthodontic treatment planning. Effective bonding enhances the treatment by reducing the bond failure and thereby reducing the treatment duration and also increases efficiency in orthodontic mechanics. The success of the bonded brackets is negatively affected by contamination with oral fluids such as blood and saliva. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of hardness of water used in removing the etchant on the bracket bond strength. Materials and Methods: Seventy five extracted premolars were divided in three groups of 25 each. The teeth in all the three groups were etched with 35% phosphoric acid. The etchant in each of the group I, II and III was removed using distilled water (soft), corporation water (moderately hard) and hard water respectively. Stainless steel brackets were attached using light cure bonding agent (transbond XT, 3M UNITEK) and cured for 10sec with a light cure unit. The shear bond strength was evaluated by mechanical testing machine. Statistically significant differences were defined for p<0.05. Result: The results showed significant increase in bond strength in samples where in soft water was used for cleaning the etchant on the bonding surface. Conclusion: Hardness of water used for washing the etchant affects the bracket bond strength. Shear bond strength of soft water is significantly increased compared to moderately hard and very hard water.

Keywords

• bonding contamination
• bond failure
• hardness of water