Evaluation of water atomized solid-state laser apparatus as a method for debonding ceramic orthodontic brackets (An In vitro study)

Abstract

Background and objectives: The contemporary demand for esthetic less visibleceramic bracket is associated with the disadvantage of complicated and difficultdebonding procedure at the end of the treatment. The aim of this study was toevaluate the water atomized laser system for debonding ceramic brackets.Method: Eighty maxillary premolars were divided into two main groups. In group-1,poly crystalline ceramic brackets (Reflections, Ortho technology, USA) werebonded to buccal enamel surface. In group-2, mono crystalline ceramic brackets(PURE, Ortho Technology USA). Were bonded to buccal enamel surface. Forall teeth, the same bracket bonding system was used. Following debonding withboth water atomized laser device and manual debonding instrument, teeth andbrackets were examined under 10X magnification for assessment of bracketfailure (fracture) and of residual adhesive on the enamel surface using amodified adhesive remnant index (ARI). Enamel surfaces were visualized withtrans-illumination prior to bonding and after removal of the residual adhesive, sothe effect of the debonding forces could be determined. The numbers of thefractured brackets were counted.Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the ARI betweendebonding with water atomized laser and utility-debonding pliers in such awaymore adhesive remnant was revealed on teeth with laser debonding. Also lessenamel damage recorder with laser group debonding compared withconventional debonding procedure, which was statistically significant,additionally more bracket fractures encountered with conventional debondingthan debonding with laser apparatus, which was highly significant statistically.Conclusions: Debonding of ceramic orthodontic brackets could be done with wateratomized laser apparatus with minimal enamel surface cracks and lesser chanceof bracket fractures.