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Study shows: Fluorescent bonding materials optimise the de-bonding of orthodontic brackets significantly

The study shows: By using VOCO’s fluorescent bonding material BrackFix, signific

When removing orthodontic brackets, residuals of the bonding material can cause discolouration and subsequent symptoms. Continuing surface treatment, after complete removal of the bonding material, may result in scratching or other permanent damage to the enamel. A recent study of Farronato et al., carried out on extracted human teeth from participants in a postgraduate class at the University of Milan now shows that even unexperienced users achieve significantly better, more reliable and time-optimised treatment results when a fluorescent bonding material is used for brackets.

 

For the randomised study, Farronato et al. used 48 human, extracted teeth. One group of orthodontic brackets each was bonded according to the manufacturer instructions with the fluorescent composite BrackFix® (VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany), the comparative group with Transbond XT (3M, Saint Paul, MN, USA). After removing the brackets, the residues of the bonding materials were removed using a 12-edged tungsten carbide instrument by participants of a postgraduate class after instruction by experienced orthodontists. The working area was additionally illuminated with an UV lamp (wavelength 360-370 nm) at a maximum distance of 50 cm to the tooth. The evaluation of the cleaning result was finally made in three grades according to the size of the residues and damage of the tooth.

 

By using VOCO’s fluorescent bonding material BrackFix, significant improvements could be achieved in removal of residues and avoidance of damages towards the comparison group. In sum, the quality class of the work carried out by the largely unexperienced participants was significantly improved by 30 %. Deviations in the achieved quality classes were strongly reduced (the standard deviation was lowered from 0.7 to 0.48). Occasional, completely inadequate removal of residues could even be fully ruled out thanks to the new type of bonding material.

 

The working times per tooth could also be reduced significantly thanks to the more visible residues of the fluorescent luting composite. With comparably experienced users and a similar degree of complication, the average processing time was halved, at the top the time was even reduced from 234 s to 60 s, which is an additional indicator of improved performance of the new type of bonding material.

 

The authors therefore come to the very positive conclusion with regard to the use of the fluorescent luting composite BrackFix from VOCO:

“This study suggests that the aid of UV lamps and the use of fluorescent composite might decrease macroscopic composite residuals and visible scratches after de-bonding procedures performed by postgraduate doctors. The de-bonding procedure is faster under the study circumstances.”

 

The study can be read in full here: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146354

 

Marco Farronato, Davide Farronato, Francesco Inchingolo, Laura Grassi, Valentina Lanteri and Cinzia Maspero

Evaluation of Dental Surface after De-Bonding Orthodontic Bracket Bonded with a Novel Fluorescent Composite: In Vitro Comparative Study

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6354.