Can demineralized enamel surfaces be bonded safely?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the effects of enamel demineralization, microabrasion therapy and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) application on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded to enamel surfaces and enamel color.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty freshly extracted human maxillary premolar teeth were allocated to one of the four groups. Brackets were bonded directly to non-demineralized enamel surfaces in Group I (control group), directly to the demineralized enamel surfaces in Group II, to demineralized enamel surfaces after CPP-ACP application in Group III and to demineralized enamel surfaces after microabrasion therapy in Group IV. The samples were stored in water for 24 h at 37°C and then underwent thermocycling. The SBS in megapascals (MPa) was determined by a shear test with 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed and failure types were classified with modified adhesive remnant index scores. The data were analyzed with one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA), Tukey and chi-square tests at the α = 0.05 level.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found among the four groups (F = 21.57, p < 0.01). No significant difference was found between Group I and III (17.12 ± 2.84 and 15.08 ± 3.42 MPa, respectively) or between Group III and IV (12.82 ± 2.64 MPa). The lowest SBS value was determined in Group II (5.88 ± 2.12 MPa). Enamel demineralization, microabrasion therapy and CPP-ACP application affected enamel color significantly.

CONCLUSION

CPP-ACP application and microabrasion therapy are able to increase the decreased SBS of orthodontic brackets because of enamel demineralization.