The air-abrasion technique versus the conventional acid-etching technique: A quantification of surface enamel loss and a comparison of shear bond strength.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the surface enamel loss that results when an air-abrasive technique is used and to compare the shear bond strength of different prebonding and bonding methods. Enamel loss was determined for 2 enamel-conditioning methods: acid etching with 37% phosphoric acid; and sandblasting with 50 microm aluminum oxide particles under different conditions. A profilometer was used to determine the surface enamel loss. Forty-two bovine teeth were divided into 7 groups (N = 6). The statistical comparison of the different groups was carried out by analysis of variance. The results showed that under certain conditions the enamel loss associated with sandblasting is equal to or smaller than that resulting from acid etching. In addition, the effectiveness of different prebonding and bonding techniques used in the bonding of orthodontic brackets was evaluated by means of shear bond strength measurements. For bonding, 1 resin and 1 glass ionomer cement were evaluated; for prebonding, a sandblaster, 2 different polyacrylic acids and phosphoric acid were tested. Seventy bovine teeth were divided into 7 groups (N = 10) and then stored in water for 24 hours. An Instrom testing machine was used to determine bond strengths, and the 7 groups were compared by means of analysis of variance. The significance of post hoc tests was predetermined at P <.003. The results showed that the bond strength of the sandblasted groups was significantly lower than that of the etching groups. This indicates that sandblasting is not an alternative for the acid-etching technique currently used in orthodontic practice.