Discoloration and force degradation of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures.

OBJECTIVE:: The aim of the present study was to evaluate color changes and force degradation of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures in different stretching patterns during a 8-weeks period. METHODS:: Two elastomers with the minimum and two with the maximum color changing, and gray elastomers of two brands (American Orthodontics and Ortho Technology) were selected according to an opinion poll with clinicians and color changes after 4 weeks of intraoral use were evaluated. These elastomers were mounted on special jigs fabricated using a CAD-CAM technique, underwent different stretching patterns and the force was measured in 0, 24 hours, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. During in vivo part of the study, force levels of elastomers were measured after 4 weeks on a material testing machine. Data were analyzed with four-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. RESULTS:: All the elastomers showed color changing but the degree of color stability was significantly different. The mean force degradation was higher in 1-mm stretch groups. After 8 weeks, the average residual force of elastomers was 1.45 ± 0.18 N and the maximum force decay was seen in the elastomers that exhibited the maximum initial force. CONCLUSION:: There is significant relationship between the stretching pattern and the amount of residual force of elastomers. Elastomers with higher initial forces exhibited higher percentages of force loss after 8 weeks. It seems that there is a relationship between initial color and color changing of elastomers.

Discoloration and force degradation of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate color changes and force degradation of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures in different stretching patterns during a 8-weeks period. METHODS: Two elastomers with the minimum and two with the maximum color changing, and gray elastomers of two brands (American Orthodontics and Ortho Technology) were selected according to an opinion poll with clinicians and color changes after 4 weeks of intraoral use were evaluated. These elastomers were mounted on special jigs fabricated using a CAD-CAM technique, underwent different stretching patterns and the force was measured in 0, 24 hours, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. During in vivo part of the study, force levels of elastomers were measured after 4 weeks on a material testing machine. Data were analyzed with four-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. RESULTS: All the elastomers showed color changing but the degree of color stability was significantly different. The mean force degradation was higher in 1-mm stretch groups. After 8 weeks, the average residual force of elastomers was 1.45 ± 0.18 N and the maximum force decay was seen in the elastomers that exhibited the maximum initial force. CONCLUSION: There is significant relationship between the stretching pattern and the amount of residual force of elastomers. Elastomers with higher initial forces exhibited higher percentages of force loss after 8 weeks. It seems that there is a relationship between initial color and color changing of elastomers.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as alterações de cor e a degradação da força de ligaduras elásticas em diferentes padrões de estiramento, durante um período de 8 semanas. MÉTODOS: duas ligaduras elásticas com alteração mínima de cor, duas com alteração máxima de cor e ligaduras elásticas na cor cinza de duas marcas comerciais (American Orthodontics e Ortho Technology) foram selecionadas de acordo com uma pesquisa de opinião com clínicos, e mediante a avaliação das alterações de cor após quatro semanas em uso intrabucal. Essas ligaduras elásticas foram montadas em jigs fabricados por meio da técnica CAD-CAM e foram expostas a diferentes padrões de estiramento, e a força foi medida nos tempos de 0h, 24h; 2, 4 e 8 semanas. Durante a parte in vivo do estudo, os níveis de força das ligaduras elásticas foram medidos após 4 semanas, em uma máquina de teste de materiais. Os dados foram analisados com os testes ANOVA de quatro vias e post-hoc de Turkey. RESULTADOS: todas as ligaduras elásticas mostraram alterações de cor, mas houve diferenças significativas quanto ao grau de estabilidade da cor. A média de degradação da força foi mais alta nos grupos com estiramento a 1 mm. Após 8 semanas, a média da força residual nas ligaduras elásticas foi de 1,45 ± 0,18 N e a maior degradação na força foi observada nas ligaduras elásticas que apresentaram a maior força inicial. CONCLUSÃO: há uma relação significativa entre o padrão de estiramento e a quantidade de força residual nas ligaduras elásticas. As ligaduras elásticas com as maiores forças iniciais exibiram as mais altas porcentagens de degradação da força após 8 semanas. É, também, possível que haja uma relação entre a cor inicial da ligadura elástica e sua alteração de cor.

Evaluation of the effect of different stretching patterns on force decay and tensile properties of elastomeric ligatures.

BACKGROUND: There have been numerous researches on elastomeric ligatures, but clinical conditions in different stages of treatment are not exactly similar to laboratory conditions. The aim of this in vitro study was to simulate clinical conditions and evaluate the effect of three stretching patterns on the amount of force, tensile strength (TS) and extension to TS of the elastomers during 8 weeks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forces, TS and extension to TS of two different brands of elastomers were measured at initial, 24 h and 2, 4, and 8-week intervals using a testing machine. During the study period, the elastomers were stored in three different types of jig (uniform stretching, 1 and 3 mm point stretching) designed by the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technique in order to simulate the different stages of orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: The elastomeric ligatures under study exhibited a similar force decay pattern. The maximum force decay occurred during the first 24 h (49.9% ± 15%) and the amount of force decay was 75.7% ± 8% after 8 weeks. In general, the TS decreased during the study period, and the amount of extension to TS increased. CONCLUSION: Although the elastic behavior of all ligatures under study was similar, the amount of residual force, TS and extension to TS increased in elastomers under point stretching pattern.

Does ultra-pulse CO(2) laser reduce the risk of enamel damage during debonding of ceramic brackets?

This study seeks to evaluate the enamel surface characteristics of teeth after debonding of ceramic brackets with or without laser light. Eighty premolars were bonded with either of the chemically retained or the mechanically retained ceramic brackets and later debonded conventionally or through a CO(2) laser (188 W, 400 Hz). The laser was applied for 5 s with scanning movement. After debonding, the adhesive remnant index (ARI), the incidence of bracket and enamel fracture, and the lengths, frequency, and directions of enamel cracks were compared among the groups. The increase in intrapulpal temperature was measured in ten extra specimens. The data were analyzed with SPSS software. There was one case of enamel fracture in the chemical retention/conventional debonding group. When brackets were removed with pliers, incidences of bracket fracture were 45% for the chemical retention, and 15% for the mechanical retention brackets. No case of enamel or bracket fracture was seen in the laser-debonded teeth. A significant difference was observed in ARI scores among the groups. Laser debonding caused a significant decrease in the frequency of enamel cracks, compared to conventional debonding. The increase in intrapulpal temperatures was below the benchmark of 5.5 °C for all the specimens. Laser-assisted debonding of ceramic brackets could reduce the risk of enamel damage and bracket fracture, and produce the more desirable ARI scores without causing thermal damage to the pulp. However, some augmentations in the length and frequency of enamel cracks should be expected with all debonding methods.