The effect of topical fluorides on ceramic brackets.

Topical fluorides are frequently prescribed to orthodontic patients to minimize development of initial carious lesions around brackets and bands. However, various topical fluorides are reported to cause surface changes and weight loss of dental materials composed of ceramic elements. Little is known of the effects of these fluorides on ceramic brackets. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of topical fluorides (0.4% stannous fluoride, 0.5% acidulated phosphate fluoride, and 1.1% sodium fluoride) as compared with water, on the weight and on the surface of the wings and slots of aluminum oxide ceramic brackets. The brackets (n = 10 each treatment agent) were weighed before 6-minute immersions in the treatment agent, rinsed, dried, and reweighed for a total of 10 immersions. The surface appearance of the wings and the slots of the brackets (n = 5 each treatment group) were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy. No statistically significant changes in weight were found among the groups. Surface changes were not observed in either the slots nor the wings of ceramic brackets. Therefore it was concluded that the commercially available topical fluorides when applied as per the regimen in this study to the aluminum oxide ceramic brackets did not cause surface damage or significant weight loss as compared with controls (water).